Manchester United's summer transfer plans are taking shape, with midfield reinforcements at the top of the agenda. However, their pursuit of Nottingham Forest's Elliot Anderson may already have hit a stumbling block, as former England star Chris Waddle has suggested the midfielder would prefer a return to Newcastle United over a move to Old Trafford.
Anderson joined Forest from Newcastle in 2024 for £35m, ending a 14-year association with his boyhood club. Waddle, himself a Geordie, said: 'Elliot Anderson is a Newcastle fan. He's a Geordie... I'm sure he's always wanted to play in those black and white stripes.' Forest are expected to demand a fee in excess of £100m to ward off interest, but the 23-year-old's emergence as a reliable Premier League midfielder may still attract serious attention.
According to the Manchester Evening News, United are planning four key additions this summer: two midfielders, a left-back and a left-sided forward. Anderson is their No.1 midfield target, with Crystal Palace's Adam Wharton, Brighton's Carlos Baleba, and Newcastle's Sandro Tonali and Bruno Guimaraes also on the list. At left-back, Arsenal's Myles Lewis-Skelly is a prominent target, viewed as a long-term successor to Luke Shaw.
Further forward, United are keen to add width and goal threat, with RB Leipzig's Yan Diomande and Everton's Iliman Ndiaye among those monitored. The club's squad rebuild, overseen by Sir Jim Ratcliffe, enters its third phase after previous windows focused on defence and attack. Casemiro is expected to leave this summer, while the futures of Manuel Ugarte, Mason Mount and Kobbie Mainoo remain unclear.
