One week after Carlos Baleba delivered a disappointing performance while playing for Brighton at Old Trafford, Elliot Anderson made most Manchester United fans stop and stare with an outstanding display for Nottingham Forest against the “Red Devils”.
Manchester United are planning to strengthen their midfield in 2026, with Anderson among the names under consideration—alongside Baleba and Adam Wharton of Crystal Palace. Their price tags, however, are very high.
Last week Baleba underwhelmed. But when it was Anderson’s turn to face United, he passed the test with flying colours.
The match ended in a 2-2 draw, with Anderson a key figure in Forest’s challenge against their hosts. He recorded the highest number of touches and the most accurate passes in his team.
Elliot Anderson – stats vs Manchester United:
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100% success rate in tackles
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15 passes into the final third
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14 ball recoveries
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3 chances created
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3 fouls suffered
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2/2 successful dribbles
A comprehensive performance both offensively and defensively, showing his dynamism, ball-progression ability and modern football intelligence — which convinced even the toughest of experts. Some United fans on social media exclaimed:
“Get him on the next train to Manchester right now!”
While last week United fans were still sceptical about Baleba, this time Anderson received almost unanimous praise.
On Reddit, one supporter wrote:
“I’m ready to spend part of our summer 2026 budget on Anderson – he’s a real machine.”
Another commented:
“Anderson was the best player in the match. If United don’t chase him next summer then it’s mad.”
And yet another summed it up:
“Elliot Anderson was superb. I only remember two poor passes — one at the beginning, one at the end — besides that he’s a complete midfielder. United should sign him because he fits any managerial philosophy, he’s English and especially plays well as a defensive-mid — a rare role these days.”
Comparing him directly to Baleba, one fan asserted:
“This match showed that Anderson is exactly the kind of player they once hoped Baleba would become.”
That said, landing Anderson will not be easy. Some sources suggest his valuation is currently at £100 million. According to TEAMtalk, Anderson wants to continue his development at a club with greater ambition, but leaving Nottingham Forest in the January window is virtually impossible because of the high price.
Manchester United are not the only club interested, and Anderson is not their sole midfield target. Nevertheless, after this recent performance, it’s not hard to understand why United fans are beginning to imagine Anderson wearing United’s shirt at Old Trafford.