Manchester United legend Paul Scholes has thrown his support behind a potential move for Nottingham Forest midfielder Elliot Anderson, describing the £100m-rated star as a 'really good signing' for his former club.
Casemiro's Uncertain Future at Old Trafford
Despite enjoying his strongest season since arriving from Real Madrid, questions surround Brazilian midfielder Casemiro's long-term future at Manchester United. The 33-year-old has been in impressive form this campaign, scoring three goals and providing one assist in his opening ten Premier League appearances.
Casemiro continued his excellent run by finding the net in Brazil's 2-0 victory over Senegal during the international break. However, with his current contract due to expire next summer and no concrete talks over a renewal underway, speculation persists about his next move.
The presence of a 12-month extension option could see the five-time Champions League winner remain at Old Trafford until 2027, but the veteran may need to accept a significant wage reduction to stay. Strong interest from the Saudi Pro League adds another layer of complexity to the situation.
Scholes Weighs In on United's Midfield Options
Speaking on The Overlap podcast, Scholes acknowledged Casemiro's improved performances this season but suggested age would ultimately factor into United's decision-making. 'He has been a great player and I think he's actually been better this year than he was possibly last year,' Scholes commented. 'I think you've got to take his age into account and I think he'll probably move on after his deal is done.'
Scholes' former teammate Nicky Butt agreed with this assessment, simply stating: 'Yeah, it would make sense to me.'
United invested heavily during the summer transfer window, bringing in Benjamin Sesko, Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo, Senne Lammens and Diego Leon for a combined fee of approximately £220 million. The club had also targeted Brighton's Carlos Baleba to strengthen their midfield but were rebuffed in their approach.
Anderson Emerges as Prime Target
With United continuing their search for midfield reinforcements, attention has turned to Nottingham Forest's Elliot Anderson. Recent reports indicate United have expressed 'concrete interest' in the former Newcastle United player, though they may need to pay between £100-120 million to secure his services.
Scholes offered strong endorsement of the potential signing: 'Elliot Anderson is a really good player. Look, I think they need a bit more than Anderson to get to where they want to be, to challenging, but, no, I think he's a really good player.'
The United icon expressed surprise at Anderson's development into a deeper midfield role: 'When he was at Newcastle I thought he was a really good player. I thought he was more of an attacking midfielder and I didn't see him in this role that he's playing for England as a number six. But he looks a really good player, I think he's athletic enough as well and, yeah, I think he would be a really good signing but we'll see.'
Butt tempered expectations slightly while acknowledging Anderson's potential: 'He's a good player. I think it's what the board and the manager wants from a player. To get Manchester United to where they want to be, they need a lot more than just that. Looking at what he's doing now, for me, he looks like potentially a top, top player.'
United face significant competition for Anderson's signature, with Manchester City, Chelsea and Liverpool also linked with the midfielder. The 22-year-old's current contract with Forest runs until June 2029, giving his club strong negotiating power.
As United prepare to return to action against Everton next Monday night, the speculation surrounding their midfield planning continues to build, with Anderson emerging as a serious target to eventually replace the ageing Casemiro.
