Rio Ferdinand believes Elliot Anderson should be Manchester United’s number one target in midfield.
Rio Ferdinand has urged Manchester United to sign Elliot Anderson rather than Newcastle United duo Bruno Guimaraes and Sandro Tonali this summer.
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United are on the hunt for a new central midfielder, and Anderson, who is valued at £80 million by Nottingham Forest, is one of the top names on their wish list.
Brighton midfielder Carlos Baleba has also attracted interest from United in the past, while reports this week have claimed that the club have already made contact to sign Newcastle United captain Bruno Guimaraes.
However, after United’s 2-2 draw with Bournemouth on Friday night, Ferdinand believes his former club should prioritise the purchase of Anderson, who is also wanted by Manchester City.
“At the start of the season, everyone was talking about [Carlos] Baleba, he seems to have lost his form a bit,” Ferdinand said.
“Elliot Anderson seems to have jumped to the front of the queue. I think he’s a fantastic player.”
“I think Elliot Anderson is the right type, not only as a player but also as a personality, I think he would be a good addition to the squad.”
“Tonali is a big talent that everyone is talking about, Guimaraes is another big talent that everyone is talking about, but I think the type of midfielder United need is someone who is a bit more energetic, who can cover large areas, who is dynamic, who is robust, strong, who can run a team.”
“Right now, Anderson seems to tick off these things. But I think there are some other young stars out there that I don’t want to mention the names of yet because I don’t want other people to get wind of them.”
Bruno Guimaraes has been linked with a possible move to Manchester United this week (Reuters)
Earlier on Friday, Newcastle manager Eddie Howe called the links between Guimaraes and a move to United “nonsense” and “disrespectful”.
“I don’t even know how to answer that. I don’t even think I should be doing it because it’s a waste of energy,” Howe said.
“I don’t want to be rude because I don’t think this is the right place for it. To me, this is a silly story.”
“Bruno is our captain, he is completely committed. He’s injured at the moment, his only focus is to get back in shape.”
“For me, there is no time to think about it. In the summer, you can understand stories like that a little bit more because the transfer window is open.”
“To say that our captain is in talks with another club is completely disrespectful, most of all to Bruno. He is wholeheartedly committed here.”
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