The Brazilian confirmed earlier this year that the 2025/26 season will be his last with the Red Devils as he moves away from Old Trafford to seek the next chapter of his career. For this reason, it is thought that the board of directors is prioritizing the acquisition of successors to key defensive players above all else. Along with the likes of Bruno Guimarães, Sandro Tonali, Adam Wharton and Carlos Baleva, Andersson has been heavily linked with a move to United once clubs are allowed to reopen.
However, the Red Devils are not the only club believed to be keeping tabs on the 23-year-old. Fierce rivals Manchester City are similarly keen on signing Anderson, with the likes of Bernardo Silva and Rodri in the latter stages of their respective careers.
Meanwhile, Arsenal and Bayern Munich are also said to be interested in the talented midfielder. United would be wise to make an early approach for Anderson, given that the midfielder’s value could increase dramatically if he performs well at the upcoming North American World Cup.
The Tricky Trees star is widely expected to feature heavily in manager Thomas Tuchel’s plans for the tournament, which could partially boost Forest’s ratings. The club, who are under contract at the City Ground until 2029, are in no hurry to offload one of their most valuable assets, especially if they can secure Premier League status in May.
Forest currently sit 16th in the table with seven games in hand, just three points above the relegation zone. If they maintain their top spot in 2026/27, the Midlands club could effectively decide their own asking price for Anderson.
As a result, the club appears to have secured both players significantly cheaper than if they had delayed operations until deadline day, given the increased interest from additional clubs and the longer the contract, the higher the fee would be. At the time of writing, Anderson’s deal is said to be worth £100m, meaning it won’t come cheap.
The Englishman has been an integral part of Forest’s campaign, appearing in all 31 of the club’s Premier League games this season. This comes as United face a busy April and May as they hope to legitimately qualify for next season’s Champions League.
At the time of writing, the Red Devils are in third place in the Premier League table with seven games remaining. Next up is a league game against Leeds United at Old Trafford on Monday 13th April, when Premier League action resumes after a short break for international games and the FA Cup.
