Manchester United has officially conceded defeat in their pursuit of Nottingham Forest midfielder Elliot Anderson, allowing arch-rivals Manchester City to take the lead in securing his transfer. United had identified Anderson as a key target for the summer but opted not to meet Forest's hefty asking price of approximately £100 million. Additionally, it is believed that Anderson favors a move to City, which has bolstered their confidence in finalizing the deal. With Pep Guardiola's recent departure, Enzo Maresca is anticipated to take over managerial duties at the Etihad and has endorsed the signing of the 23-year-old midfielder. As a result, United is now redirecting their attention to other potential midfield acquisitions, including Adam Wharton, Carlos Belaba, and Real Madrid's Aurelien Tchouameni and Federico Valverde. They have also considered a surprise move for Alexis Mac Allister, although negotiations with Liverpool are expected to be challenging. City aims to complete Anderson's transfer before he heads to the World Cup with England, where his value could further increase based on his performance.