United Wave White Flag on Anderson as City Circles with Record-Breaking Bid

Manchester United have made their call on the Elliot Anderson saga, and it's not the one their supporters were hoping for.

The Red Devils have already wrapped up their first midfield acquisition of the summer with Ederson, but Anderson—Nottingham Forest's prized 23-year-old—remains frustratingly out of reach. United's hierarchy had earmarked the England international as their top target for a midfield overhaul, yet circumstances have conspired against them.

Nottingham Forest are holding firm at their £105m valuation and showing no signs of budging. More problematically, Manchester City have been leading this dance since March and show every intention of leading it to the finish line.

City's opening gambit—an offer in the region of £80m upfront—came back marked rejected. Undeterred, they're preparing a second bid that would break their club's transfer record. Fabrizio Romano confirmed on Monday that City are readying an official proposal exceeding £100m, which would eclipse Jack Grealish's current standing as their most expensive recruit at exactly £100m.

Romano's assessment was telling: City remain confident of completing the deal after months leading the race, though he noted that United haven't entirely disappeared from view. Yet that caveat feels increasingly academic.

According to sources cited by transfer insider Fraser Fletcher, United have effectively pivoted elsewhere. Their attention has shifted toward alternative midfield options, a clear signal that the Anderson pursuit has hit the buffers. While the Red Devils continue monitoring the situation, their serious work is now happening in other directions.

The Manchester Evening News had previously suggested United could still gatecrash proceedings if City withdrew—though that would require United to outspend their neighbours. With City now prepared to land within touching distance of Forest's asking price, that scenario looks about as likely as a clean sheet in a derby day.

The writing, it seems, is on the wall.