United Eye Lens Star Sangare as Anderson Alternative Costs Spiral

Manchester United have turned their attention to Lens midfielder Mamadou Sangare after being priced out of the Elliot Anderson sweepstakes, with French reports suggesting the Red Devils are readying an offer for the 23-year-old Mali international.

The club's midfield overhaul is well underway following the confirmed arrival of Atalanta's Ederson to replace Casemiro, yet INEOS chiefs remain keen to bolster the engine room further with Manuel Ugarte poised to depart. Anderson had been their primary target, but the Newcastle loanee's preference for Manchester City has complicated matters considerably.

City have tabled a second verbal offer to Nottingham Forest worth £106million with potential add-ons exceeding £120m, though the East Midlands club are holding out for a fixed fee surpassing the £125m Liverpool paid for Alexander Isak last summer. The astronomical asking price has proven too steep for United, prompting them to explore alternatives including Matheus Fernandes, Alex Scott, and Carlos Baleba.

Sangare, however, has emerged as an intriguing option. The 23-year-old arrived at Lens from Rapid Vienna for £7m last summer and has already made a significant impression in Ligue 1, racking up 39 appearances across all competitions whilst contributing three goals and four assists. His performances earned him the Marc-Vivien Foé award as the division's outstanding African player.

A box-to-box operator with a reputation for tireless running and defensive acuity, Sangare recently emphasised his enthusiasm for the defensive side of his game in an interview with RFI. "I love going to defend against the opponent," he said. "I really made progress on that… I really like this aspect of my game, because it really makes me happy to go get balls."

Transfermarkt values the Mali international at €40m (£35m), though a competitive auction involving a dozen European clubs—several from the Premier League—is expected to drive his price higher this summer. United are reportedly particularly determined to land their man, and Lens appear resigned to losing him despite his contract running through 2030.

The French club's hierarchy have acknowledged the near-impossibility of retaining Sangare given the level of interest and his evident desire for a fresh challenge. For United, he represents a more attainable solution to their midfield puzzle than the increasingly costly Anderson.