Elliot Anderson has three traits that make him a better signing than Carlos Baleba for Man United

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Manchester United are in the market for a new central midfielder and two of their top targets are currently in the Premier League.

Last weekend, Carlos Baleba failed his audition at Old Trafford as the Brighton midfielder struggled to impress during Manchester United’s 4-2 win.

Over the summer, United were ready to bid for Baleba, but an asking price of over £100 million meant that Ineos walked away with an eye on returning to the table in 2026.

However, Baleba’s poor form this season means Ineos are happy to look elsewhere, and now Elliot Anderson is on United’s radar following a sensational start to the season with Nottingham Forest.

Anderson would cost United £75m in 2026 which would take a considerable bite out of the budget, but his statistics are undeniably impressive.

How Elliot Anderson and Carlos Baleba compare

Both Anderson and Carlos Baleba play in central midfield roles, but they have very different characteristics.

While Baleba is very physical and powerful, Anderson is very technical and press-resistant. It is up to United’s transfer team to decide who is the top target in 2026, but the stats suggest Anderson should be at the top of the list.

As per the stats, collected via FBref, Anderson comes out on top in almost every area. Baleba only leads Anderson in the number of progressive carries per 90 minutes.

United’s scouts rave about Anderson, and the stats show exactly why. His three key strengths are his passing, dribbling and defensive actions – all of which make him a perfect athletic midfielder for Ruben Amorim’s system.

At 22 years old, he is only one year older than Baleba, and it makes him an ideal option to step into United’s midfield and become a key player for the next decade – perfect for Ineos’ long-term transfer strategy.

Elliot Anderson could unlock Kobbie Mainoo

A big talking point this season has been Kobbie Mainoo’s lack of minutes under Amorim. The problem is that the Carrington graduate finds himself competing with Bruno Fernandes for a starting spot.

Even against Brighton, Mainoo and Fernandes did not work together as a partnership, with Amorim having to call upon Manuel Ugarte to strengthen his midfield in the second half.

Mainoo’s flaws include his defending and his lack of urgency in midfield, but Anderson has enough ability to patch over those weaknesses and unlock Mainoo’s strengths.

READ MORE: Rio Ferdinand tells Kobbie Mainoo he can learn a lot from one Man Utd teammate

Despite being a very different type of midfielder, Anderson could be the long-term heir to Casemiro that United are so desperate to find.

At Forest, Anderson’s defensive work often goes under the radar because in possession he is so impressive. A double pivot of Mainoo and Anderson is certainly something that could work in Amorim’s system.