Elliot Anderson | City agree fee up to £130m

[croadyman]

Jackson is a well respected United journo.

He wouldn't come out with "the club’s executives are optimistic they can beat Manchester City in the race to acquire the 23-year-old midfielder"

Unless he is hearing, or has been briefed, that there is some real movement or optimism.

If this was coming from a Whitwell or Ducker then I might believe there was actually something in it

 

[Dominos]

This is a weird one.

We could be keeping our hat in the ring just to ensure City have to pay top dollar. We might be optimistic City's charges verdict could change things. We might think City are liable to walk away from the deal when they accept Forest are serious about their valuation, at which point United could move.

But if City walk away from the deal due to the price, I don't see us getting involved. It's all very odd.

 

[croadyman]

Holding onto the Wallsend boys club connection between Carrick and Anderson.

I don't blame you for trying to find something

 

[pascell]

That’s a different tone from the preceding weeks. I wonder have the club had some encouragement from Anderson’s agent, or is Jackson taking a stab in the dark?

The latter. The article is written by Jamie Jackson and Jacob Steinberg, neither are reliable.

 

[Fortitude]

Holding onto the Wallsend boys club connection between Carrick and Anderson.

Divvent be daft, man! What ye playin' at? Get yersel ower here to us! We're a club gannin' places, standard. Ye winnat be disappointed, ah ower-word ye.

 

[croadyman]

This is a weird one.

We could be keeping our hat in the ring just to ensure City have to pay top dollar. We might be optimistic City's charges verdict could change things. We might think City are liable to walk away from the deal when they accept Forest are serious about their valuation, at which point United could move.

But if City walk away from the deal due to the price, I don't see us getting involved. It's all very odd.

Just can't see them walking away unfortunately

 

[Hammondo]

Yes really. They will replace Bernardo with Anderson. Rodri probably still has 2 years left in the tank, and if sold will also surely be replaced.

Aside from that, their squad is strong enough and of a good enough age profile to survive a 2 year transfer ban. The signings of Guehi and Semenyo in January clearly improved them, and they should still finish there or thereabouts.

GK - Donarumma 27, Trafford 23
LB - O'Reilly 21, Ait Nouri 25
CB - Guehi 25, Gvardiol 24, Khusanov 22, Dias 29
RB - Nunes 27, Lewis 21
CM - Rodri 29, Nico Gonzalez 24, Reijnders 27
AM - Cherki 22, Foden 26, Nypan 19
LW - Doku 24, Marmoush 27
RW - Semenyo 26, Savinho 22
CF - Haaland 25

The age profile of their squad is very impressive, it's almost as if they've been building it in anticipation of such a scenario.

They could probably do with an additional player this summer at RB, CM and CF or RW (to back-up either Doku or Haaland); maybe CB depending on Dias' fitness. But assuming they get those signings done, which isn't that many, then it should be pretty future-proof for 2 years. The vast majority of their squad will be in their very peak years.

Again, they may still not win the league with it, and the manager will be a question mark, but it will be enough to keep them very competitive at the top end of the table.

They have the numbers, just not the quality.

 

[the_cliff]

This is a weird one.

We could be keeping our hat in the ring just to ensure City have to pay top dollar. We might be optimistic City's charges verdict could change things. We might think City are liable to walk away from the deal when they accept Forest are serious about their valuation, at which point United could move.

But if City walk away from the deal due to the price, I don't see us getting involved. It's all very odd.

Depends on the price. If City walk away at 100m valuation and West Ham is adamant that Fernandes will cost 80 I can see us paying the extra 20 for Anderson.

If its 110 + I doubt we'll be involved.

 

[lex talionis]

Yes it’s taken a long time. Too long. But you asked a question and I answered it. There’s no point questioning why they’re allowed to make transfers whilst waiting for the verdict, because the answer is in the question.

On some level, there's no point in a forum like the caf as there's zero chance that United management consult us for advice. But assuming there is some value in people like us discussing issues affecting United on an online United forum, it is noteworthy that the FA has now had two years to consider the evidence before it and not taken any action -- which could be declaring that City did nothing wrong on the end of the spectrum to guilty as charged on all 115 counts on the other end of the spectrum. The relevance of the FA's dilatory action is that City has been allowed to conduct business as usual, including allowing City to conduct its transfer business the moment when the transfer window opens on Monday, June 15, days or weeks before a judgment and punishment will be meted out to City.

 

[Raoul]

Suspect Wilcox and Berrada think they can land both Fernandes and Anderson. The trick will be how to land Fernandes first without overpaying so that Forrest don’t attempt to apply that standard to Anderson as well.

 

[the_cliff]

Suspect Wilcox and Berrada think they can land both Fernandes and Anderson. The trick will be how to land Fernandes first without overpaying so that Forrest don’t attempt to apply that standard to Anderson as well.

You really think we'll end the transfer window with Anderson, Ederson and Fernandes ?

I hope you're right but considering we need a left back and probably a left winger I doubt it.

 

[Gandalf]

You really think we'll end the transfer window with Anderson, Ederson and Fernandes ?

I hope you're right but considering we need a left back and probably a left winger I doubt it.

I would say it is the dream scenario but certainly unlikely. We spent 200M on our forward line last summer without CL football so 200M on a midfield rebuild is within the realm of possibility, especially when we started off by getting Ederson for 35M.

If we could haggle West Ham down to around 65M for Fernandes then get Anderson at 100M I think we can afford it and have a little left in the tank for other positions. We still signed Lammens last summer after all of the spending on the forward line so additional signings this summer after the midfield would be doable, particularly when you consider that we have significantly reduced the wage bill over the last 12 months and we have already concluded the Hojlund deal.

If we can find a taker for Rashford and then move on Ugarte and Zirkzee that should comfortably give us enough to sign a forward to compete with Sesko and a left sided player for whichever role we determine Dorgu is not filling, LB seeming to be the most obvious right now.

The sticking point is that City are likely going to match any bid we send for Anderson and in terms of wages we know they will blow us out of the water and when you get right down to it that still turns a lot of players heads, if it didn't 90% of the current City squad would never have gone near the place. Factor in that competition for Fernandes is heating up and the glass half empty side of me sees us defaulting back to Baleba and hijacking the Everton deal for Hayden Hackney.

 

[Robertd0803]

Theres something about this thats giving me a slight hope. Dont know why.

 

[Raoul]

You really think we'll end the transfer window with Anderson, Ederson and Fernandes ?

I hope you're right but considering we need a left back and probably a left winger I doubt it.

I would be surprised if we do, but it’s not outside the realm of possibilities given some of the amounts of money I’ve heard we have to spend this summer. Nevermind that we’re already losing two midfielders this summer.

 

[croadyman]

The latter. The article is written by Jamie Jackson and Jacob Steinberg, neither are reliable.

Yeah I wouldn't trust either of them whatsoever

 

[Heliax]

I would be surprised if we do, but it’s not outside the realm of possibilities given some of the amounts of money I’ve heard we have to spend this summer. Nevermind that we’re already losing two midfielders this summer.

Getting the three of Ederson, Fernandes, and Anderson would be a dream for the midfield, but would we accept that if it means neglecting LB and/or a backup striker?

We're not guaranteed any incoming fee for Rashford yet either, so our may also depend on how that situation resolves.

 

[lex talionis]

I'd love to see it happen, but it's hard to imagine how we could land all three of Anderson, Fernandes and Ederson. And I'm not sure that we would want to, assuming that there are some constraints on our transfer warchest.

Anderson goes for at least 90m and I wouldn't even rule 110m out of the question. We've already spent 35m for Ederson. Let's say that 125m right there. Best case scenario Fernandes goes for 60m. How much would we have left for Lewis Hall, who seems likely to go for at least 50m?

Beyond the sums of cash involved, there's also playing time. Bruno and Mainoo are nailed on regular starters, so only two of the three names above would be the other nailed on started and of course that would be Anderson. Injuries and the like will pop up, but I'm not sure Fernandes would want to come to OT just to back Anderson's cover -- or that we would want to spend 60m for Anderson's cover. Ederson at 35m is on the money.

All this assumes we find a buyer for Ugarte, which seems doable but at a steep discount to what we paid for him.

 

[croadyman]

Theres something about this thats giving me a slight hope. Dont know why.

I would need much more than City loving Jamie Jackson saying something to get even a slight hope

 

[Rolaholic]

 

[croadyman]

Getting the three of Ederson, Fernandes, and Anderson would be a dream for the midfield, but would we accept that if it means neglecting LB and/or a backup striker?

We're not guaranteed any incoming fee for Rashford yet either, so our may also depend on how that situation resolves.

I would accept no LB, however feel we could definitely get a striker that doesn't cost the earth. Having said that it will be academic anyway when Ornstein confirms they have had second bid accepted unfortunately

 

[spenzo]

I'd love to see it happen, but it's hard to imagine how we could land all three of Anderson, Fernandes and Ederson. And I'm not sure that we would want to, assuming that there are some constraints on our transfer warchest.

Anderson goes for at least 90m and I wouldn't even rule 110m out of the question. We've already spent 35m for Ederson. Let's say that 125m right there. Best case scenario Fernandes goes for 60m. How much would we have left for Lewis Hall, who seems likely to go for at least 50m?

Beyond the sums of cash involved, there's also playing time. Bruno and Mainoo are nailed on regular starters, so only two of the three names above would be the other nailed on started and of course that would be Anderson. Injuries and the like will pop up, but I'm not sure Fernandes would want to come to OT just to back Anderson's cover -- or that we would want to spend 60m for Anderson's cover. Ederson at 35m is on the money.

All this assumes we find a buyer for Ugarte, which seems doable but at a steep discount to what we paid for him.

I think that’s the more relevant part as I don’t think Mateus would have too big an issue with being effectively 3rd choice, which is the best he would be at most top clubs. However I do think we could do all of that and get a top left back, but a forward signing could be a stretch, which would be needed if we let Zirkzee go.

 

[Raoul]

Getting the three of Ederson, Fernandes, and Anderson would be a dream for the midfield, but would we accept that if it means neglecting LB and/or a backup striker?

We're not guaranteed any incoming fee for Rashford yet either, so our may also depend on how that situation resolves.

I’ve seen sums of up to £300m available to us this summer (reporting by Critchley iirc), so that shouldn’t be a problem, especially with the likes of Welbeck and others available for relatively low fees.

 

[Gandalf]

I would accept no LB, however feel we could definitely get a striker that doesn't cost the earth. Having said that it will be academic when Ornstein confirms they have had second bid accepted unfortunately

Second bid was supposedly slightly over 80M, I imagine Marinakis will reject that in seconds. The market for top class midfielders has been set at around 100M by the Rice, Fernandez and Caicedo deals and he is hardly the guy to roll over and give a discount. City are not in a rush and will haggle for weeks as he is at the World Cup and not going to be part of pre season regardless, I just hope we don't go down the FDJ route and waste time waiting on the outcome. I like him as a player but we have to have a plan B and Ederson, Fernandes and another signing who improves us to replace the hopefully departing Ugarte should not be beyond the reach of our recruitment team.

 

[RedRocket9908]

I think he'll end up at City unless he refuses to go there, no one else will be willing to pay over £100m for him

 

[CM]

Anderson and Fernandes together would be a top tier summer window if we could pull it off. I'm always pretty skeptical when it comes to Jamie Jackson though

 

[the_cliff]

I would be surprised if we do, but it’s not outside the realm of possibilities given some of the amounts of money I’ve heard we have to spend this summer. Nevermind that we’re already losing two midfielders this summer.

It's much needed so hopefully you're right.

I think he'll end up at City unless he refuses to go there, no one else will be willing to pay over £100m for him

I doubt City would even bid if they haven't received word form the player. This whole United link today looks like it could be Forest trying to get City to up the price.

 

[croadyman]

They have been in box seat for months, maybe if we had got Carrick in earlier when this deal first got touted last December he might have been more open to idea of joining

 

[Fortitude]

It's much needed so hopefully you're right.


I doubt City would even bid if they haven't received word form the player. This whole United link today looks like it could be Forest trying to get City to up the price.

Do you really think professional clubs get their information from the outlets broadcasting to the masses?

 

[stu_1992]

Jackson is a well respected United journo.

He wouldn't come out with "the club’s executives are optimistic they can beat Manchester City in the race to acquire the 23-year-old midfielder"

Unless he is hearing, or has been briefed, that there is some real movement or optimism.

Well respected by who? As far as I recall, he's been super unreliable for a long long time.

 

[the_cliff]

Do you really think professional clubs get their information from the outlets broadcasting to the masses?

Yes, leaks by agents/clubs have often been used as pressuring tactics.

 

[ThanksBoss26]

Second bid was supposedly slightly over 80M, I imagine Marinakis will reject that in seconds. The market for top class midfielders has been set at around 100M by the Rice, Fernandez and Caicedo deals and he is hardly the guy to roll over and give a discount. City are not in a rush and will haggle for weeks as he is at the World Cup and not going to be part of pre season regardless, I just hope we don't go down the FDJ route and waste time waiting on the outcome. I like him as a player but we have to have a plan B and Ederson, Fernandes and another signing who improves us to replace the hopefully departing Ugarte should not be beyond the reach of our recruitment team.

Agreed, no chance Forest will accept that.

I’ve read a couple of times already this summer we don’t intend to be involved in long drawn out sagas. That’s not to say signings will be done as quickly as us supporters would like, they rarely are. But I certainly don’t see us being in a de Jong type scenario.

 

[croadyman]

It's much needed so hopefully you're right.


I doubt City would even bid if they haven't received word form the player. This whole United link today looks like it could be Forest trying to get City to up the price.

Oh yeah City have definitely got word from him

 

[strandty]

Second bid of ‘in excess of’ £80m. wtf was their first bid?

They will get him cheaper than most think I reckon because they will give Forest it all in one lump sum rather than over X amount of years.

 

[Fortitude]

Yes, leaks by agents/clubs have often been used as pressuring tactics.

So you don’t think clubs have their own means of gathering information and digging? It’s usually the quality of the digging that gets the job done. There’s a reason clubs try to keep “super agents” onside and have deep, connected networks.

The stuff we see isn’t the half of it and is mostly there for engagement (£). Stringing big club fanbases along is a delightful revenue stream.

 

[croadyman]

Carrick needs to pick up the phone to him in US and just outline his how he would be centre piece of midfield rebuild

 

[MaMa given red]

Still think he’s more likely to end up at City but I just wondered whether we’re adopting a similar approach with this as we have the last two summers under Ineos where we let another suitor set a valuation first and then swoop in to match it rather than being the front runners and likely paying more.

Forest have already set the valuation.

The only way we'd get him now is by offering more than City as a fee and wages.

 

[Oo0AahCantona]

Theres something about this thats giving me a slight hope. Dont know why.

My headcannon is that United are spending time working on other deals and letting city do the negotiation then will just match it at the end and make their pitch to Anderson.

 

[dinostar77]

Wow. £120mil. This time it's Ornstein saying it.

No thanks.

These prices (M Fernandes at £85mil) are making Ederson look like a steal at £40mil.

 

[DOTA]

£120m wouldn't be a PL record.

 

[2 man midfield]

£120m wouldn't be a PL record.

Shhh don't tell Forest or they'll want 131