Man Utd have a “future £100m” star who’s Carrington’s very own Anderson

Manchester United’s main priority during the summer transfer window was to strengthen the club’s front line – which they have achieved as evidenced by their £200m investment in such an area.

Matheus Cunha, Brian Mbeumu and Benjamin Sisko have all moved to Old Trafford, forming a new lethal trio for Ruben Amorim to work with during his time at the helm.

However, after such deals were completed, the hierarchy turned their attention to a new number six to help bolster the strength and quality within the midfield department.

Carlos Palipa was identified as the Red Devils’ primary target over the summer, but they were unable to conclude a deal, with Brighton & Hove Albion demanding more than £100m for his signature.

There is no doubt that Amorim’s men will still be keenly interested in his signature next January, but another Premier League option has since appeared on their radar over the past few weeks.

How Anderson compares to Manchester United Chiefs in 2025/26 so far

In a bid to bolster their midfield ranks, United have been heavily touted to sign Nottingham Forest star Elliot Anderson in the upcoming January window.

It has been reported that Amorim have already made contact with Sean Dyche’s men over a deal to sign him this winter, but it could cost a fee of up to £100m.

Such a deal would be a huge boost from the board, but how does the 23-year-old compare to current starters Bruno Fernandes and Casemiro?

Both current Red Devils are experienced options, with both now over 30 years old, but that has not stopped Anderson from greatly dominating the duo in such key areas.

The Englishman has topped 13 separate metrics in the Premier League this season, with many showcasing his talents both on and off the ball.

He completed 113 passes into the final third, with his tally of 706 completed, the most of any player in the division – which then demonstrated his impressive ability in possession.

Off the ball, the youngster also dominated, with that skill set potentially putting an end to Casemiro’s Old Trafford career at the end of the season.

Anderson has participated in the most defensive duels of any player in the division, while also winning the most duels – making him the perfect depth option for Amorim.

At just 23 years old, the Jungle star has all the tools needed to transform into an elite-level talent, but it remains to be seen whether the hierarchy are willing to pay £100m for his signature.

United star who is considered their local version of Anderson

Given the rumored price of Anderson’s signature, it demonstrates the importance of being able to identify talent at an early age, or even produce your own versions of an academy set-up.

There is no doubt that United have shifted their focus on recruitment over the past couple of months, as evidenced by their signings of Diego León and Ceni Lamens – with both talented youngsters with huge potential.

However, the academy’s ranks have also proven fruitful in recent years, as evidenced by the emergence of the Class of ’92, with alumni playing a major role in Sir Alex Ferguson’s tenure.

The likes of David Beckham, Paul Scholes and Nicky Butt have operated at the heart of the team throughout their careers – helping the club win 13 separate Premier League titles.

Fans will no doubt be hoping Anderson can add himself to this list in the near future, but Amorim could save himself and the club millions by unleashing Kobe Maino.

Like the academy stars mentioned above, the 20-year-old burst onto the scene as a teenager, making an instant impact and becoming a key member of United’s squad.

His breakthrough came in the 2023/24 season, where the youngster made 32 appearances in all competitions, scoring on five separate occasions – several of which proved to be crucial efforts.

Maino scored a last-minute winner in a close match against Wolverhampton Wanderers, while also scoring against arch rivals Manchester City in the FA Cup final victory.

However, he has been unable to reach these levels over the past 12 months, with current coach Amorim preferring the likes of Casemiro and Manuel Ugarte ahead of him.

Such a decision may come as a surprise to the fanbase, especially in light of his stats from last season, which saw him outperform Anderson in several key areas – despite making just 25 league appearances.

Maino completed more passes than he attempted, while also completing more crosses he attempted – leading to Alex Türk dubbing him a “future £100m+ footballer”.

He also completed more attempted dribbles, while being dispossessed of the ball on fewer occasions, which then demonstrated his amazing ability in possession.

However, without the ball, Maino was dribbled over on fewer occasions, along with more interceptions – highlighting his ability to beat the £100m star when given the chance.

Maino is clearly still a player with bags of talent, but the manager desperately needs to swallow his pride and give the 20-year-old the chance to prove himself as a first-team regular.

He has often had to settle for minutes on the bench, which has undoubtedly hampered his chances of continuing his progress and building on his impressive start to his career in 2023/24.

When he returns from injury in the near future, the 40-year-old needs to give the youngster the opportunity to have consistent performances as a starter to allow him to reach his full potential at the Theater of Dreams.

Such a decision would save the club millions of pounds, while giving the academy graduate the opportunity to lead the Red Devils to new heights in the coming years.