Sheringham urges Man United to swoop for Elliot Anderson if Man City face relegation

Teddy Sheringham has urged Manchester United to reignite their pursuit of Elliot Anderson, arguing that Manchester City’s landmark guilty verdict on 114 Premier League financial rule breaches could force a wave of high-profile departures from the Etihad.

Anderson, 23, was a United target last summer before City moved decisively to sign the midfielder from Nottingham Forest in a £116 million deal. He has settled quickly at the Etihad and cemented his place in the England squad, most recently impressing against Spain.

City were found guilty of 114 of the 115 charges brought against them by the Premier League in February 2023. The club continue to deny the charges and have lodged an appeal, but fans and pundits are already weighing the potential consequences — a heavy points deduction, a forced sale, or expulsion from the top flight have all been discussed.

“I think there’s going to be a lot of top players available at Manchester City, and Anderson is definitely one of them,” Sheringham told Hajper. “I love him. I can’t believe anyone has question marks over him. He is a fantastic player, and he was brilliant again for England against Spain. He just has everything for me.”

The former United striker went further, suggesting the situation represents a broader opportunity for a club he believes has fallen behind its rivals in terms of individual quality. “There will be 20 players up for grabs, and if Manchester United can grab any of them, it will enhance them, because United don’t have any top players anymore,” he said. “Bruno Fernandes is the leading light at United, and you’ve still got a few good players, but you don’t have anyone who is a top player in their position. They’re all at the other clubs, a lot of them are Manchester City players, so there’s a big opportunity on the horizon for United now.”

Sheringham’s comments are unlikely to land smoothly with supporters of either club. Anderson himself stirred tension on the red side of Manchester when he described City as the “kings of Manchester” ahead of last month’s derby, which City won 1-0 at Old Trafford. The midfielder also revealed after completing his move that City had always been his “second team” — a connection that dates back to childhood, when his grandfather bought him a City shirt.

“Obviously, I’m a Newcastle fan deep down but you’ve always got a second team and for me, that was Manchester City,” Anderson said. “I think I was about seven or eight years old, and I just started following the club and really enjoyed it.”

The outcome of City’s appeal will determine whether any of this speculation becomes reality, but Sheringham’s intervention signals that United’s interest in Anderson has not entirely faded.