Man United hold talks with Elliot Anderson's representatives

Manchester United held talks with the representatives of Nottingham Forest midfielder Elliot Anderson on May 18, according to a report circulated on X as the club weighed midfield options for the summer window. The report did not say that United had reached Nottingham Forest or agreed terms with the player. It did say any move would be complicated by Anderson’s long contract at the City Ground. Elliot Anderson, 23, is tied to Nottingham Forest until June 2029 after signing a five-year deal when he joined from Newcastle United in July 2024, according to the Premier League’s transfer announcement and player records. That contract length matters because it leaves Forest under no immediate pressure to sell and raises the price and leverage involved in any approach. ### What exactly has been reported so far? A May 18 post from @JSTransferTime said Manchester United had held talks with Anderson’s representatives. The post framed the contact as preliminary and pointed to the contract situation as the main obstacle to any deal. No official statement from Manchester United, Nottingham Forest or Anderson’s camp was available in the reporting reviewed. That leaves the current position at the level of reported agent contact rather than a confirmed bid, agreement or club-to-club negotiation. ### Why is Anderson drawing attention from big clubs? Premier League records list Anderson as a Nottingham Forest central midfielder who has made 118 top-flight appearances in his career and recorded 13 assists overall. In the 2025/26 Premier League season, the league’s stats page credits him with 37 appearances, four goals, four assists and 3,269 minutes. Those numbers help explain the interest. Anderson is no longer being discussed as a development player alone; he has become a regular Premier League midfielder with heavy minutes, production in possession and room to grow at 23. ### Why does the 2029 contract make this difficult? Nottingham Forest announced Anderson on July 1, 2024, saying he had signed a five-year deal after arriving from Newcastle United. A contract running to June 2029 gives Forest control over the timetable and means any buyer would likely have to make a significant offer before the selling club even considers talks. Transfer negotiations also tend to move in stages. Contact with representatives can establish interest, salary expectations and the player’s openness, but it does not remove the need for Forest to engage if United want to take the move further. ### Has United been linked with him before? Manchester Evening News reported months ago that Manchester United were weighing up a move for Anderson as part of a push to strengthen central midfield. Sky Sports has also reported broader Premier League interest in Anderson, including from Manchester City and Arsenal. That wider interest is relevant because it suggests United would not be operating alone if Forest became willing to listen. It also means the market around Anderson could be shaped by competition as much as by Forest’s asking price. ### What would need to happen next? Manchester United would need either to open or to intensify club-to-club contact with Nottingham Forest for the story to move beyond exploratory talks. Forest, for their part, would have to decide whether they are prepared to discuss a sale of a midfielder under contract until 2029. The next concrete marker will be a named report of direct contact between the clubs, a formal bid, or a public statement from Nottingham Forest or Manchester United. Until then, the verified facts are narrower: Anderson is 23, he is under a long-term Forest contract, and his representatives have been reported to have held talks with United on May 18.