Nottingham Forest midfielder Elliot Anderson would prefer a move to Manchester City ahead of Manchester United, according to reports.

Anderson is one of the most in-demand players ahead of the summer transfer window having established himself as one the best midfielders in the Premier League with his impressive performances for Forest this season.

The 23-year-old is also on course to secure a place in England’s World Cup squad this summer following his solid midfield displays under Thomas Tuchel.

Anderson, who joined Forest in a £35 million deal from Newcastle United in 2024, has attracted interest from City, United and Chelsea.

However, The Mirror reports that City believe they have won the race to sign Anderson this summer and are confident they can agree a £65m fee with Forest.

The report adds that City are well aware of United’s interest but Anderson has Anderson ‘has let it be known’ that his preferred choice is a move to Pep Guardiola’s side.

City are also keen to complete a deal for Anderson before the start of the World Cup in order to avoid a bidding war with rival Premier League clubs.

Speaking earlier this week, Rio Ferdinand insisted that United should make the signing of Anderson their priority for the summer window.

‘Guimaraes and Tonali wouldn’t be my first-choice midfield signings this summer,’ Ferdinand 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.’

‘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.’

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Gareth Barry has advised Manchester United to wrap up possibly their most important transfer of the summer before the World Cup starts.

United are yet to decide who will be Ruben Amorim’s long-term replacement but Michael Carrick has emerged as the frontrunner, impressing in his role as caretaker boss since January.

Both United’s performances and form were underwhelming under Amorim but Carrick has taken the Red Devils up to third in the Premier League, just six points behind title contenders Manchester City.

Manchester United were hailed for their transfer business last summer and will hope for another productive window this time around with several key areas requiring reinforcements.

United’s priority is to sign a new central midfielder to replace Casemiro, who announced in January that he would be leaving the club at the end of the season.

Amorim in fact wanted to sign a midfielder last summer but United prioritised attacking additions, signing Benjamin Sesko, Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha, all of whom have impressed this season.

Elliot Anderson, Adam Wharton and Carlos Baleba have been heavily linked with moves to Old Trafford over the past six months and Premier League legend Barry has heaped praise on the Nottingham Forest star.

Anderson is believed to be United’s first-choice option for the midfield position and Barry says it would benefit both him and the club if a deal was struck before the World Cup starts in June.

‘Manchester United are certainly going to be looking for a Casemiro replacement,’ Barry, who has made the second-most appearances in Premier League history, told BoyleSports.

‘Elliot Anderson is probably a slightly different player and a very different age, his skillset is a lot different. But I do like Anderson.

‘If you’re a Man Utd scout, you’ll mention him. He’s one of the best off-the-ball players. He presses to limit the attacking player’s space. He’s one of the best around, and he’s capable of going the other way as well.

‘That’s why Thomas Tuchel’s got him in his starting eleven over a lot of big-name players with England, and he’s a possible starter for the World Cup team.

‘So I’m sure he’s being discussed in the Old Trafford boardroom, as well as maybe other teams.

‘I think, from that sort of experience for a player and a club, if the deal is going to happen, try to get it done as soon as possible.

‘I think it just helps everyone. It helps both clubs and helps the player, especially going into a big tournament. 

‘He doesn’t want to be thinking about his club future while trying to win the World Cup for England. It’s not going to help anyone. Also, the price tag could be a bit steeper if he has a good tournament.

‘If something like that is going to happen and the player’s got his head around the fact that it’s time for a move, it’s certainly better to be done before the tournament than after.’

Anderson’s form for Nottingham Forest has put him in contention to start for England at this summer’s World Cup.

Before that the 23-year-old, who is valued at around £80m, will hope to help Forest avoid relegation from the Premier League, with Vitor Pereira’s side 16th – three points above the drop zone – with seven games left.

Forest’s first Premier League game back following the international break is against Aston Villa on Sunday, while Anderson’s potential future club Manchester United return to action a day later against Leeds United.

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Arsenal, Manchester United and Manchester City are all expected to be in the market for midfielders in the summer, with their shopping lists looking remarkably similar.

As ever, the big Premier League clubs will make significant investment in their squads in the next transfer window and one position in particular is going to be a hot topic.

Manchester United are especially in need of a central midfielder, having tried and failed to sign one last summer and with Casemiro leaving the club at the end of the season.

Arsenal and Manchester City are in a less pressing situation, but are keen to strengthen in midfield ahead of another Premier League title challenge next season.

A trio of players already in the Premier League have been linked with all three heavyweights, which could see transfer battles break out in the coming months.

Elliot Anderson

First of those three players is Nottingham Forest and England star Elliot Anderson, who is hoping to start for the Three Lions alongside Declan Rice at the World Cup this summer.

Sky Sports report that Anderson is in no rush to leave Forest and is focussed on their Premier League survival and the huge tournament at the end of the season.

Clearly if the Tricky Trees are relegated then they will find it very difficult to hang onto the 23-year-old, but if they stay up they will try to hang onto one of their most valuable assets.

Earlier this season, Nottingham Forest reportedly slapped a £75m price tag on Anderson and that could rise still further if he stars for England at the World Cup.

Adam Wharton

Anderson’s England teammate Adam Wharton is another attracting interest from plenty of clubs, with Liverpool and Real Madrid also thought to be interested in the Crystal Palace man, alongside Arsenal and Manchester United and City.

Wharton only turned 22 last month but has already established himself as an impressive Premier League performer and is likely to go to the World Cup with Thomas Tuchel’s side this summer.

Reports suggest that he is only interested in leaving the Eagles for a Champions League club, but clearly Manchester United, City and Arsenal are on course to secure top level European football next season.

Still under contract until 2029, Palace would want at least £80m for the man they signed from Blackburn Rovers in 2024.

Sandro Tonali

The third Premier League star being tracked by the Red Devils, Gunners and Cityzens is Newcastle’s Sandro Tonali.

Juventus showed an interest in him in January, while Arsenal were also thought to be weighing up a move but it never amounted to anything.

Tonali’s agent, Giuseppe Riso, has made no secret of the fact that he sees his client moving to a team regularly challenging for titles.

‘Exactly, that was the aim from the moment he went to England: to try and turn him into a star player,’ Riso said when asked of a potential move to a team in Premier League title races.

‘I think he’s the Italian player with one of the highest values in the world.’

Riso added: ‘Everyone is waiting for the World Cup, then a thousand scenarios will unfold, but it all kicks off after the World Cup.’

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By CIARAN FOREMAN, SPORTS REPORTER and JAMES SHARPE and CHRIS WHEELER, NORTHERN SPORTS WRITER and NATHAN SALT – FOOTBALL REPORTER and MATT BARLOW, FOOTBALL WRITER

Updated: 09:30 EST, 1 March 2026