Those of a Manchester United persuasion are weary from looking back to former glories, although there remains a nagging sense that certain deals would have been wrapped up had Sir Alex Ferguson still been at the helm.
As treble winner Teddy Sheringham stated previously, the likes of Harry Kane and Declan Rice – both notable targets prior to their respective moves in 2023 – would have been the types of deals wrapped up by Fergie, with the Scotsman regularly raiding the Premier League for the best British talent available.
“They were two top English internationals at the top of their game years ago. Sir Alex Ferguson would have bought those players to lead by example and United didn’t.”
In the present day, there is that feeling again with regard to Nottingham Forest and England sensation, Elliot Anderson, with the 23-year-old in line for a marquee exit this summer after two fruitful years at the City Ground.
Where once United were top dogs, however, securing such a deal is far less straightforward these days, ensuring midfield alternatives remain on the agenda.
Man Utd could make significant move for Anderson alternative
Reports on Wednesday outlined that United and INEOS are set to engage in fresh talks regarding a move for the ex-Newcastle United man, with there an urgency to try and wrap up a deal ahead of his involvement in the upcoming World Cup.
Anderson vs Tonali – 25/26 PL stats
Anderson
Stat (*per game)
Tonali
31
Games
29
2
Goals
0
2
Assists
2
86%
Pass rate*
85%
1.5
Key passes*
0.9
6
Big chances created
5
2.9
Tackles*
1.0
1.1
Interceptions*
0.9
55%
Total duels won*
54%
18.0
Possession lost*
11.0
That said, the belief is that rivals Manchester City are firmly ahead in the race for his signature, amid uncertainty over Rodri’s future at the Etihad and with Bernardo Silva’s exit having already been confirmed.
A £100m plus move for City would force United to look elsewhere, with Sky Sport Switzerland journalist, Sacha Tavolieri, reporting that the Red Devils have drawn up a list of other targets.
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Among those mentioned is Aston Villa star, Amadou Onana, with the Belgian able to leave the Midlands side for a ‘significant fee’ this summer, as per the report.
It was reported last summer that Villa could demand upwards of £90m, having previously plucked the 6 foot 5 midfielder from Everton on a £50m deal in 2024.
According to Tavolieri, Onana had turned down the chance to move to Old Trafford instead that summer, highlighting how he has been a long-term target for the INEOS regime.
Why Onana could be a midfield upgrade on Anderson
Described as the “same profile” of player as Scott McTominay by former United man, Mikael Silvestre, Onana would offer real physicality and presence to the club’s relatively depleted midfield ranks in Manchester.
Still only 24, the 27-cap Belgium international has already racked up a wealth of experience, both in the Premier League and abroad, having made 137 appearances combined for Villa and Everton, scoring 11 goals in that time.
The towering midfielder had also previously been on the books at Lille and Hamburg, netting six times in 68 games across those two spells, further indication of the threat he can pose in an attacking sense.
For comparison, Anderson has scored just four goals in 83 games for Forest, after previously failing to score at all in 55 games back at Newcastle, with his only ‘prolific’ spell coming amid a seven-goal spree at Bristol Rovers in the EFL.
It is also Onana who has enjoyed more regular European action, having played in the Champions League for both Lille and Villa, while also competing in the Europa League this time around for Unai Emery’s side.
Anderson is far more of a late bloomer in that regard, up to just 12 outings across both of those two competitions, albeit while having played just 43 total minutes in the Champions League.
Considering the price tag being mooted for the Forest star, that lack of truly elite-level experience might well be something of a concern, thus giving Onana the edge in that regard, even while just a year older than his Premier League counterpart.
In the top-flight this season too, meanwhile, it is Onana who comes out on top across a string of key metrics, notably bettering Anderson with regard to pass accuracy (87% vs 86%), aerial duels won (69% vs 59%) and total duels won (64% vs 55%), further indication of the superior physicality that the Villa man could provide alongside Kobbie Mainoo.
Perhaps most notably too, the Senegal-born giant is also particularly adept at retaining possession, losing the ball just 6.2 times per game on average, while Anderson has lost the ball 18 times per game by contrast.
That might well speak to the latter man’s innate creative quality, yet with United already boasting Bruno Fernandes in that regard, the powerhouse presence of Onana might well be a better fit.
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