Man Utd 'accept' Elliot Anderson price tag as summer transfer plans become clear

Manchester United remain keen on signing a new midfielder this summer but it appears that the Red Devils will have to pay a pretty penny to welcome one of their target to Old Trafford

Manchester United have accepted that they will have to pay a lofty fee to sign one of their first-choice midfielders this summer. The Red Devils are keen to add a new destroyer to their squad, with the imminent exit of Casemiro.

The Brazilian is set to depart Old Trafford in the summer at the conclusion of his contract. United have already been putting thought into his potential replacement.

Nottingham Forest star Elliot Anderson and Brighton’s Carlos Baleba are long-term targets, while Crystal Palace midfielder Adam Wharton has a number of admirers at United. Newcastle’s Sandro Tonali has also recently emerged as a potential target.

As per the BBC, Forest have put a £80million price tag on Anderson, a fee that United have reportedly accepted they will have to pay to land one of their top targets. There is also the small matter of interest from rivals Manchester City. It is however hoped that qualifying for the Champions League could see United convince Anderson to make the move to Old Trafford.

The England man is not expected to be the only one to have a lofty price tag. Brighton are expected to demand around £100m for Baleba, while Palace will not want Wharton to leave for cheap.

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Newcastle could also ask for a lofty amount for Tonali, despite it being suggested that the Italian could be open to a move away from St James’ Park in the near future.

Any signing would be drafted in as Casemiro’s replacement despite suggestions that he should be offered a new deal at the club.

Speaking after the Brazilian’s recent goal vs Aston Villa, United boss Michael Carrick said: "I think this is totally no disrespect to Case, he's been fantastic, he has been a big player for us and has been important in the dressing room and one that I have spoken to and connected with really well.

"But I think as a club and as a team, your players come and go, some may be bigger, some may be more important than others at different times.

"I don't think it's ever really about replacing them like for like, I think you can go with different directions, you understand what the balance of the squad will need, whether that's on the pitch, off the pitch leadership, positionally, there's all sorts of different things going into it.

"Case's done some really, really good things and certainly since I've been here he's been an absolute pleasure to work with."