Manchester United are preparing for a big summer rebuild, with the midfield position becoming one of the biggest areas needing attention.
The Red Devils are expected to lose experienced midfielder Casemiro, while the future of Manuel Ugarte also remains unclear.
Because of that, manager Michael Carrick and the club’s recruitment team are searching for new options who can bring energy, quality, and balance to the middle of the pitch.
United have looked at several midfield targets, including West Ham star Mateus Fernandes, Newcastle United’s Sandro Tonali, Bournemouth’s Alex Scott, and Lille youngster Ayyoub Bouaddi.
However, one player has been seen as a dream target for the club.
That player is Nottingham Forest midfielder Elliot Anderson.
Man Utd admire Elliot Anderson, but face a transfer problem
Anderson has become one of the most talked-about midfielders in the Premier League after an excellent season with Nottingham Forest.
The 23-year-old has impressed with his work rate, defensive ability, and quality on the ball.
His performances have even earned praise from England manager Thomas Tuchel, who believes he can become an important player for the national team.
Manchester United are believed to be huge admirers of Anderson, but a move looks very difficult.
Forest’s asking price is expected to be extremely high, with reports suggesting a fee of around £120m could be needed.
That kind of money would make the deal almost impossible, even for a club like Manchester United.
Because of this, United have started looking at other midfield options, with Ederson from Atalanta and Fernandes from West Ham among the names linked with a move to Old Trafford.
But while United are searching for a new midfielder, some fans may wonder if they already have a similar player inside their own academy.
Zidane Iqbal shines and raises questions over Man Utd’s decision
Zidane Iqbal was once seen as one of the most exciting young midfielders coming through Manchester United’s academy.
The Iraqi international was highly rated at Carrington because of his technical ability, passing skills, and football intelligence.
However, he struggled to break into the first team.
Iqbal made only one senior appearance for Manchester United before leaving the club in 2023 to join Dutch side FC Utrecht.
At the time, many saw the move as a chance for him to develop and get regular football.
However, his progress has not always been smooth, with limited appearances and some difficult periods in the Netherlands.
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But his recent World Cup performances have reminded people why United rated him so highly.
During Iraq’s match against France, Iqbal showed exactly what he can offer.
The midfielder looked calm against strong opposition and played with confidence in the middle of the pitch.
He completed 93% of his passes, made five defensive contributions, and won several important battles.
His ability to keep possession and move the ball quickly stood out.
The performance led to questions from some observers about why a player with his talent is not playing at a higher domestic level.
Could Man Utd have missed out on another academy gem?
Manchester United have produced many talented young players over the years, but not every youngster gets the chance to succeed at Old Trafford.
Iqbal’s situation is interesting because his style has some similarities to the type of midfielder United are now searching for.
Like Anderson, he can defend, carry the ball forward, and help control games.
Before leaving the club, Iqbal was even ahead of some academy players who later became first-team stars.
His technical quality was often praised, with some scouts comparing parts of his game to top midfielders in Europe.
Of course, Elliot Anderson is currently ahead and has proven himself in the Premier League, but Iqbal’s World Cup display shows there is still plenty of talent there.
United will hope their decision to sell him does not become another example of a young player leaving and reaching his potential somewhere else.
Carrick faces important midfield decisions
Carrick now has a big job ahead as United look to rebuild their midfield.
The club needs players who can handle pressure, win battles, and improve the team for the future.
Whether they spend big on a proven Premier League player or look for younger options will be a major decision.
But Iqbal’s performances have added another talking point.
The former United youngster may not have had the perfect journey after leaving Old Trafford, but his World Cup display has shown that his ability was never in doubt.
For Manchester United, the question is whether they let another special talent leave too early.
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