On Wednesday night, Manchester United’s bid to sign Elliot Anderson all but ended.
The Red Devils may still be in the hunt but their hopes of luring one of English football’s biggest talents to Old Trafford are over.
Manchester City had a bid of £120m rejected and although they may return with another offer, it has blown United out of the water.
Michael Carrick’s side may be the richest club but trying to match those kinds of costs in this summer’s market is out of the question.
Fans will complain about the lack of ambition but it’s hard to protest here. With City sitting in the table, this is actually one that United would not have a chance to finish.
So, what’s next for Jason Wilcox and Co?
Another Anderson is waiting for Man United to sign him
Anderson was a dream target this summer and understandably so. Set to start alongside Declan Rice in the England engine room this summer, the Nottingham Forest star is one of them. i the premium talents that the Premier League has to offer.
No midfielder ran a great distance in the top flight last quarter. Only one player in the entire division registered the most defensive players in 90 minutes.
This is a top class player who will be well worth the £100m plus transfer fee.
United will need to find a strong alternative but that will not be easy. Ederson will arrive from Atalanta in an attempt to close that Anderson heartbreak but they will need more. There is a feeling that more marquee is needed.
Two of the most watched players will be West Ham’s Mateus Fernandes and Bournemouth’s Alex Scott. Brighton-linked Carlos Baleba is also refusing to leave.
Talking about United’s recent search for a new midfielder, journalist Ben Jacobs said on the United Stand YouTube channel: “Man United can check Scott and Fernandes and then if they want to look for Baleba, they already know the terms, they already know the player wants to join them. The only thing they don’t know is what kind of price Brighton will start.”
Previous reports suggested it would be £75m cheaper than the £100m price paid last week.
Why Baleba would be the perfect replacement for Casemiro
United may have missed out on Anderson but in Ederson, they will sign what looks like a replacement for Casemiro.
The Atalanta man has been described as “the most powerful midfielder in the world” by Italian content creator Damiano Coccia, and he will bring a duel-winning quality to the Brazilian’s professional ranks.
However, there is a feeling that for all of Baleba’s faults this season, he has a much higher ceiling, higher than Ederson, in particular.
It was only a year ago that Brighton’s star was being talked about in the same way that Anderson is now. Although the Englishman was about to leave, Baleba did not and there is no doubt that he is paying.
In 2024/25, the Cameroonian midfielder was one of the best players in the league but his stats have been declining in recent times. 2025/26 was not at all kind to the player who struggled to find form under Fabian Hurzeler.
|
Baleba – 2024/25 vs 2025/26 |
||
|---|---|---|
|
Mathematics (in 90 minutes) |
24/25 |
25/26 |
|
Goals |
0.10 |
0.00 |
|
Shots |
1.48 |
1.04 |
|
It helps |
0.03 |
0.00 |
|
Opportunities are created |
0.77 |
0.37 |
|
Successful dribbles |
1.11 |
0.67 |
|
Duels won |
6.71 |
4.95 |
|
Fighting |
2.66 |
1.96 |
|
Mistakes have been made |
1.35 |
1.77 |
That being said, he is still only 22 years old and has a lot of potential left to be unleashed.
Growing up, the Brighton youngster’s idol was Paul Pogba and it’s clear why. He has that Pogba-esque ability to carry the ball forward through midfield with power and speed.
In that regard, Baleba would represent a huge improvement on Casemiro. His successful dribbles of 1.11 per 90 in 2024/25 were significantly better than the Brazilian’s 0.21 this season. Compared to midfielders in the Premier League, that was one of the worst figures in the entire division.
The important thing is that if United end up going for the Brighton star, that they get the version we saw last season, not this season.
If they can land him, he would be a key asset alongside Kobbie Mainoo in Carrick’s side. He won the most duels in 2024/25, 6.71 to be exact. Casemiro, for context, won 6.61 per 90 in his last spell with United.
Because of this, what they can get here is the second return of their big Brazilian, with more power and better ball handling skills.
Bigger talent than Anderson: Man Utd “really” want to sign £85m star
Manchester United look set to miss out on Elliot Anderson.
