Manchester City face Manchester United transfer hijack threat in pursuit of Elliot Anderson | OneFootball

Manchester United are continuing to pose a serious threat to Manchester City’s ambitions of signing Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest this summer.

While those within the Etihad Stadium continue to proceed with intent following Pep Guardiola’s exit after a dominant 10-year stay, their cross-town rivals at Old Trafford are determined to use the transition at City to execute a statement signing ahead of them.

The battle for Anderson is accelerating just days before the 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off in North America, with both clubs aware that a strong international campaign could further heighten Forest’s valuation on the player.

For Manchester City, securing a dynamic, elite ball-carrier like Elliot Anderson is seen as vital to ensuring the team hits the ground running under Enzo Maresca for the 2026/27 Premier League campaign, particularly in light of Bernardo Silva‘s exit.

Manchester United pose threat to City in Anderson chase

Now, according to The Guardian’s Jamie Jackson and Jacob Steinberg, Manchester United remain intent on signing Elliot Anderson and club officials remain ‘optimistic’ they can beat Manchester City in the race for the 23-year-old midfielder.

The England international is reportedly valued at around £100 million by Nottingham Forest, who have already rejected an initial £80 million bid from Manchester City – the current favourites for his signature.

That being said, the latest development claims that Manchester United believe the former Newcastle man can be persuaded to move to Old Trafford, and Anderson can expect to receive a 50% increase on his £100,000-a-week wage regardless the Manchester club he moves to.

Why Elliot Anderson is so highly-valued

Having established himself as a dominant, versatile elite Premier League force, Elliot Anderson’s data – highlighted by exceptional progressive carrying metrics and possession-winning statistics – makes him a dream fit for Maresca’s system.

Forest’s refusal to accept anything less than a £100 million package proves the difficulty in securing top-tier English talent, especially as the player edges closer to becoming a regular fixture in Thomas Tuchel‘s national team setup.

Manchester City are likely to remain unfazed by the sudden noise from their neighbours, relying on their Champions League pedigree, the state-of-the-art infrastructure at the City Football Academy, and trophy-winning history to keep themselves in the driver’s seat.