Ratcliffe backs Anderson wage demands as United re-enter £100m race with City

Manchester United are back in contention for Nottingham Forest midfielder Elliot Anderson, with co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe reportedly prepared to meet the 23-year-old’s wage demands as the club goes head-to-head with Manchester City for his signature.

Forest’s £100m valuation and City’s early interest had initially led United executives to step back from the pursuit, turning their attention elsewhere in the transfer market. A £38m deal for Atalanta’s Ederson — a Brazil international and expected late World Cup call-up — has since been completed as United’s first midfield addition of the summer.

However, The Guardian reports that United remain intent on landing Anderson and that club executives are confident they can win the race. Anderson currently earns £100,000 a week at the City Ground, and a 50 per cent increase is expected whichever Manchester club he ultimately joins. Ratcliffe is said to be willing to sanction that uplift.

City have already had one bid rejected and are preparing a second offer in excess of £80m — still well short of Forest’s asking price. United’s position is further complicated by the fact that a strong World Cup tournament with England could push Forest’s valuation even higher. Anderson is expected to start alongside Declan Rice in midfield for England’s group-stage opener against Croatia.

With the Ederson deal done, United are also exploring a second midfield signing. West Ham’s Mateus Fernandes, Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton and Brighton’s Carlos Baleba have all been linked.

Attention is also turning to the wide positions. Marcus Rashford, who has not featured for United in 18 months, remains focused on a permanent move to Barcelona and has turned down approaches from Arsenal, Newcastle United, Tottenham and Bayern Munich. Everton’s Iliman Ndiaye has emerged as a potential replacement, while RB Leipzig’s Yan Diomande was also of interest before he appeared to move closer to a switch to either Paris Saint-Germain or Liverpool.

Kobbie Mainoo is expected to serve as the primary midfield cover for both Anderson and Rice at the World Cup, while Rashford and Anthony Gordon are competing for the left-wing berth in Gareth Southgate’s starting XI.