Manchester United board confident of signing £100m star after Ederson transfer

Manchester United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe (Picture: Getty)

Manchester United executives are ‘optimistic’ they will beat Manchester City to a stunning deal for England midfielder Elliot Anderson , according to reports.

Anderson is currently preparing for the World Cup and is expected to be a key player in Thomas Tuchel ’s England squad .

The 23-year-old is coming off the back of another superb season for Nottingham Forest in which he helped the club secure their Premier League status and go deep in the Europa League.

Anderson’s form has caught the eye of a number of clubs and Manchester City were believed to be favourites to secure his signature this summer.

Man City identified Anderson as their top summer target and are lining up a second offer for the Forest star after seeing their initial £80m bid rejected.

Etihad bosses expect to win the race for Anderson but The Guardian say Manchester United are optimistic of hijacking the deal and bringing him to Old Trafford.

It is claimed United believe Anderson is yet to make the final decision over his future and are confident he can still be persuaded to choose the red half of Manchester.

England’s Elliot Anderson is preparing for the World Cup (Picture: Getty)

The Red Devils have made Brazil midfielder Ederson their first signing of the summer in a £35m deal with Italian side Atalanta.

But Michael Carrick, who was appointed as United’s permanent head coach last month, wants at least one more midfielder to arrive through the doors as Casemiro has left and Manuel Ugarte could be sold.

Manchester United have expressed interest in West Ham’s Matheus Fernandes, Newcastle United’s Sandro Tonali, Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton and Brighton’s Carlos Baleba but Anderson appears to be their top target.

More to follow…