Rio Ferdinand names £100m star as ‘first-choice’ transfer target for Man Utd’s midfield | Football

Rio Ferdinand has encouraged Manchester United to make Nottingham Forest’s Elliot Anderson their primary midfield target ahead of the likes of Bruno Guimaraes and Sandro Tonali.

The Red Devils have identified central midfield as their key area of focus ahead of the upcoming transfer window having spent around £200million to overhaul their misfiring attack last summer.

Old Trafford bosses had also been keen to bring in a central midfielder to fit Ruben Amorim’s much-maligned 3-4-3 system last summer – and a host of names were linked, including Adam Wharton, Carlos Baleba and the £100m-rated Anderson.

Brighton even confirmed that United made an ambitious approach for Baleba before the transfer deadline, only to simply ‘go away’ when informed the Cameroon international was not for sale.

Though uncertainty remains surrounding Michael Carrick’s position in the hot seat, work is ongoing behind the scenes at United to explore ways in which the squad could be bolstered in the middle of the park.

The need for reinforcements was made even more clear when Casemiro confirmed that this season would be his last at United, with the veteran Brazilian distancing himself from any suggestion of a possible U-turn.

Reports emanating out of Spain last month suggested Casemiro had himself picked out fellow countryman Guimaraes as the ideal replacement at the Theatre of Dreams.

Guimaraes has long been mooted as a possible target for United, in addition to Newcastle team-mate Tonali, who is understood to be valued in the region of £100m at St James’ Park.

However, Ferdinand hopes Anderson is placed at the top of United’s wishlist as he feels his unique skillset would ‘absolutely complement’ Kobbie Mainoo in the engine room next season.

‘Guimaraes and Tonali wouldn’t be my first-choice midfield signings this summer,’ the legendary ex-United and England defender said on his Rio Presents YouTube channel.

‘It’s Elliot Anderson. His age, he’s 23 years old… Guimaraes is 28 and Tonali is 25, soon to be 26, so that counts for a lot for me. I want young, hungry players in my squad.

‘He complements Mainoo. I think Mainoo is going to be one of the main players in the team now, they’re going to build around him and I think Elliot Anderson absolutely complements him.’

On a potential Anderson-Mainoo midfield axis, Ferdinand went on: ‘They’re different. Anderson has that ability, that energy to get around the park, he’s aggressive. We need those legs.

‘And he wins the ball. He’s more combative than the other two.

‘Elliot Anderson is the only player to win over 150 duels, win possession more than 150 times, and win at least 50 fouls in the Premier League, the whole Premier League I must add, this season. They’re my reasons why, guys.’

Anderson’s stock has soared over the last 18 months and the 23-year-old Nottingham Forest star appears a shoo-in for Thomas Tuchel’s World Cup squad in the summer.

Facing the media prior to the Three Lions’ recent friendly with Japan, Anderson reassured both Forest and England fans that he had been blocking out the incessant noise and speculation over his future.

‘We have the World Cup this summer, my eyes are on that,’ he told reporters.

‘Playing for England, I’ve got the badge on, that’s all I’m thinking about at the moment.

‘All the games are the same, I’m just going on the pitch and doing my best. Fight for whatever strip I have on, that’s all I’m doing.’

Anderson’s current contract at the City Ground runs through to June 2029.

For more stories like this, check our sport page.

Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on
Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

MORE: Ray Parlour tells Mikel Arteta to get rid of Arsenal’s ‘deadwood’ after shock FA Cup defeat

MORE: Gareth Barry urges Manchester United to sign £80m star before the World Cup

MORE: Wayne Rooney names the manager Man Utd ‘100 per cent have to’ appoint