Gareth Barry believes Manchester United should sign a Premier League star as the ideal replacement for Casemiro.
Elliott Anderson is on the radar of Man United ahead of the summer (Image: James Marsh/REX/Shutterstock)
Former Premier League midfielder Gareth Barry has called for Manchester United to sign Elliott Anderson to replace Casemiro. The 34-year-old has already confirmed that his spell at Old Trafford will end when his contract expires this summer.
United’s choice not to give new terms to the experienced midfielder is part of a wider rebuild of the squad. Casemiro joined from Real Madrid in 2022 for an initial transfer fee of £60m, with add-ons taking the total to £70m.
He pockets around £300,000 a week, which will be closer to £350,000 if United qualify for the Champions League. Manuel Ugarte’s future with the M16 is also in doubt. Several names have been touted as potential replacements for the duo.
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Carlos Bareva, Sandro Tonali and Adam Wharton have also been mentioned, but Barry believes Anderson is the best fit for the position.
Speaking to BOYLE Sports, which provides the latest soccer odds, the former Aston Villa player said: “Man United will definitely be looking for a replacement for Casemiro. Elliott Anderson is probably a slightly different player, he’s quite a different age and his skill set is quite different.”
“I like Elliott Anderson. If you were a Man United scout you would mention his name. He is one of the best off-the-ball players. He presses and limits the space for attacking players. He is one of the best players and can go the other way too.”
“That’s why Thomas Tuchel is putting him in his starting eleven over a lot of England’s big players and he could be a potential starter in the World Cup squad. So I’m sure he’s being talked about in the Manchester United boardroom as well as probably other teams.”
Nottingham Forest player Elliott Anderson (Image: Getty Images)
“With that kind of experience for the player and the club, I think if a deal is going to happen, we should try to get it done as soon as possible. I think that will only help everyone. It will help both clubs and it will help the player, especially when we go into a big tournament.”
Barry added: “He doesn’t want to think about the future of the club while he’s trying to win the World Cup with England. That doesn’t help anyone. Also, if he performs in good competitions, the price could go up a bit.”
“If something like that happens and the player understands that it’s time to transfer, it’s certainly better to do it before the tournament than after.”
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However, Nottingham Forest are unlikely to allow the 23-year-old, who has become a key defensive midfielder at the City Ground since arriving from Newcastle United in 2024, to leave.
A £100m price tag has previously been seen as an inducement to sell, but Forest’s fight against falling prices could impact on that valuation. Vitor Pereira’s side currently sit 16th in the table, just three points clear of the relegation zone with seven games remaining.
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