{"id":314485,"date":"2026-04-06T22:28:51","date_gmt":"2026-04-06T16:58:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ebiztoday.news\/?p=314485"},"modified":"2026-04-06T22:28:51","modified_gmt":"2026-04-06T16:58:51","slug":"rio-ferdinand-names-100m-star-as-first-choice-transfer-goal-for-man-utds-midfield-football","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ebiztoday.news\/index.php\/2026\/04\/06\/rio-ferdinand-names-100m-star-as-first-choice-transfer-goal-for-man-utds-midfield-football\/","title":{"rendered":"Rio Ferdinand names \u00a3100m star as ‘first-choice’ transfer goal for Man Utd’s midfield | Football"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Elliot Anderson would \u2018absolutely complement\u2019 Kobbie Mainoo in Manchester United\u2019s midfield, says Rio Ferdinand (Picture: Getty)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Rio Ferdinand has encouraged Manchester United to make Nottingham Forest\u2019s Elliot Anderson their primary midfield goal ahead of the likes of Bruno Guimaraes and Sandro Tonali.<\/p>\n

The Red Devils have identified central midfield as their key area of focus ahead of the upcoming transfer window having spent around \u00a3200million to overhaul their misfiring attack last summer.<\/p>\n

Old Trafford bosses had also been keen to usher in a central midfielder to suit Ruben Amorim\u2019s much-maligned 3-4-3 system last summer \u2013 and a bunch of names were linked, including Adam Wharton, Carlos Baleba and the \u00a3100m-rated Anderson.<\/p>\n

Brighton even confirmed that\u00a0United made an ambitious approach for Baleba before the transfer deadline, only to easily \u2018go away\u2019 when informed the Cameroon international was not on the market.<\/p>\n

Though uncertainty stays surrounding Michael Carrick\u2019s position in the recent seat, work is ongoing behind the scenes at United to explore ways by which the squad could possibly be bolstered in the course of the park.<\/p>\n

The necessity for reinforcements was made much more clear when Casemiro confirmed that this season could be his last at United, with the veteran Brazilian distancing himself from any suggestion of a possible U-turn.<\/p>\n

Reports emanating out of Spain last month suggested Casemiro had himself picked out fellow countryman Guimaraes as the best substitute on the Theatre of Dreams.<\/p>\n

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Forest are reportedly demanding a fee of \u00a3100m for Anderson (Picture: Getty)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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The Red Devils have also been linked with Newcastle duo Guimaraes and Tonali (Picture: Getty)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Guimaraes has long been mooted as a possible goal for United, along with Newcastle team-mate Tonali, who is known to be valued within the region of \u00a3100m at St James\u2019 Park.<\/p>\n

Nonetheless, Ferdinand hopes Anderson is placed at the highest of United\u2019s wishlist as he feels his unique skillset would \u2018absolutely complement\u2019 Kobbie Mainoo within the engine room next season.<\/p>\n

\u2018Guimaraes and Tonali wouldn\u2019t be my first-choice midfield signings this summer,\u2019 the legendary ex-United and England defender said on his Rio Presents YouTube channel<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u2018It\u2019s Elliot Anderson. His age, he\u2019s 23 years old\u2026 Guimaraes is 28 and Tonali is 25, soon to be 26, in order that counts for loads for me. I would like young, hungry players in my squad.<\/p>\n

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Anderson appears a shoo-in for Tuchel\u2019s World Cup squad (Picture: Getty)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u2018He complements Mainoo. I feel Mainoo goes to be one among the essential players within the team now, they\u2019re going to construct around him and I feel Elliot Anderson absolutely complements him.\u2019<\/p>\n

On a possible Anderson-Mainoo midfield axis, Ferdinand went on: \u2018They\u2019re different. Anderson has that ability, that energy to get across the park, he\u2019s aggressive. We’d like those legs.<\/p>\n

\u2018And he wins the ball. He\u2019s more combative than the opposite two.<\/p>\n

\u2018Elliot Anderson is the one player to win over 150 duels, win possession greater than 150 times, and win at the very least 50 fouls within the Premier League, the entire Premier League I have to add, this season. They\u2019re my the reason why, guys.\u2019<\/p>\n

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\n\t\t\"England\t<\/div>
The Forest midfielder has been capped six times by England (Picture: Getty)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Anderson\u2019s stock has soared during the last 18 months and the 23-year-old Nottingham Forest star appears a shoo-in for Thomas Tuchel\u2019s World Cup squad in the summertime.<\/p>\n

Facing the media prior to the Three Lions\u2019 recent friendly with Japan, Anderson reassured each Forest and England fans that he had been blocking out the incessant noise and speculation over his future.<\/p>\n

\u2018We have now the World Cup this summer, my eyes are on that,\u2019 he told reporters. <\/p>\n

\u2018Playing for England, I\u2019ve got the badge on, that\u2019s all I\u2019m excited about in the meanwhile. <\/p>\n

\u2018All of the games are the identical, I\u2019m just happening the pitch and doing my best. Fight for whatever strip I even have on, that\u2019s all I\u2019m doing.\u2019<\/p>\n

Anderson\u2019s current contract on the City Ground runs through to June 2029.<\/p>\n

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Who could be one of the best signing for Manchester United?<\/h3>\n