Rio Ferdinand has urged Manchester United to prioritise signing Elliot Anderson over Newcastle United duo Bruno Guimaraes and Sandro Tonali.
Anderson has emerged as a transfer target for the Premier League’s top teams after an impressive period at Nottingham Forest.
The 23-year-old has become a regular in the England team and has shone in a struggling side this season. Anderson ranks among the top 10% of midfielders across Europe for possession won and progressive passes completed this season.
Discussing Manchester United’s summer plans, Ferdinand endorsed a move for Anderson. He said the midfielder’s age, and ability to complement Kobbie Mainoo, should see him prioritised ahead of Newcastle duo Guimaraes and Tonali.
“Bruno Guimaraes and Tonali wouldn’t be my first-choice midfield signings this summer,” Ferdinand told Rio Presents.
“It’s Elliot Anderson, he’s 23, Guimaaes is 28, Tonali is 25, soon to be 26, so that counts for a lot for me. I want young hungry players in my squad.
“He complements Mainoo, because I think Kobbie is going to be one of the main players in the team now, going to build around him and I think Elliot Anderson absolutely complements him.
“They are different, Anderson has that mobility, that energy to get around the park, aggressive, we need those legs and he wins the ball. He’s more competitive than the other two”.
