Not Anderson: Man Utd now want another Forest star who costs £80m less

Manchester United have shifted their midfield focus at Nottingham Forest from long-term target Elliot Anderson to his teammate Ibrahim Sangare, a move that could save the club around £80 million, sources have told the media.

United scouts have tracked Anderson for months, but senior figures at Old Trafford have been persuaded that Sangare’s defensive-midfield skill set is a better fit for the rebuild planned for next summer. The Ivorian, valued by Transfermarkt at €22 million (approximately £19 million), is contracted to Forest until 2028 and cost the club £30 million when he arrived from PSV Eindhoven in 2023.

The reassessment comes as United prepare for life after Casemiro, who is expected to leave, and amid continued uncertainty over Manuel Ugarte’s impact following 18 underwhelming months. Bruno Fernandes’ future is also described as dependent on several factors, heightening the urgency to reinforce the engine room.

While Anderson remains on the radar with an asking price hovering near £100 million, INEOS directors are weighing whether such an outlay on a No. 8 is justifiable after Kobbie Mainoo’s emergence. Sangare, 28, offers a more economical solution and a contrasting profile: a ball-winning anchor who relishes physical duels and operates in the Casemiro mould, albeit with less creative responsibility.

United’s recruitment model envisions at least two midfield additions. Prioritising Sangare would allow the bulk of the budget to be directed toward a marquee No. 6—deep-lying playmaker Adam Wharton or enforcer Carlos Baleba are names under review—while still securing Forest’s Ivorian enforcer.

Anderson and Sangare have shared the pitch effectively for Forest, with the Englishman pushing forward and the African sitting deep, a tactical balance United believe could translate to the Premier League summit should both deals eventually materialise.

For now, the emphasis has swung toward Sangare, whose price tag and positional discipline offer immediate relief to a department crying out for stability.