Amorim switching to a back four could help attract Anderson! If he insists on playing 3-4-3, he will choose Manchester City

Ruben Amorim adopted a 4-2-3-1 formation in the Manchester United vs. Newcastle game, replacing the 3-4-3 setup that he was reluctant to change. Reportedly, if he uses it more frequently, it could help in the chase for Nottingham Forest’s Elliott Anderson.

According to "Athletic," the 23-year-old Anderson is Manchester United’s preferred midfield signing, and the club has made their intentions clear to his agent. However, the England international is more inclined to join Manchester City next summer, similar to Bournemouth winger Antoine Semenyo.

It is said that besides Anderson’s long-standing support for Manchester City, the formation also plays a role. Anderson believes Guardiola’s three-midfielder setup better suits his style. He is not interested in Manchester United’s previous 3-4-3 formation, thinking it demands too much running from central midfielders and is not ideal for Premier League performance. He prefers a tactic that allows him to control the tempo.

Guardiola is determined to sign a new midfielder to replace the injured Rodri, whose performances have been inconsistent since missing many games last season. "Manchester City has invested significant effort in Anderson," a source explained, "They have conducted multiple scouting missions and, after thorough analysis, found Anderson perfectly fits their current needs. Therefore, they are likely to do everything possible to secure the deal ahead of competitors."

Rumors suggest Anderson has reached a verbal agreement with Manchester City, but Manchester United is unwilling to give up and still hopes to compete for the player, who is seen as their top midfield reinforcement target. Amorim’s willingness to change tactics could significantly help persuade Anderson.

Athletic’s respected transfer expert David Ornstein stated that Anderson will definitely stay at Nottingham Forest this season, and his next club might depend on the choice of manager. "Many factors hinge on the head coach’s decisions; there is still uncertainty involving Manchester United, Manchester City, Chelsea, and Bayern Munich," Ornstein said. "Players like Anderson certainly want security in this regard, so the next six months are crucial. I believe the World Cup next summer won’t affect his destination."

There are frequent rumors that Guardiola might leave Manchester City after this season, so Manchester United still holds some hope. Of course, Manchester United might also fail to sign Anderson, in which case Crystal Palace’s Adam Walton would become Amorim’s alternative. The 21-year-old England international has yet to decide his future and has a different playing style from Anderson, more similar to Manchester United legend Carrick.

Brighton’s Carlos Baleba also remains on Manchester United’s potential transfer target list. In Cameroon’s opening match of the Africa Cup of Nations, the 21-year-old defensive midfielder was substituted at halftime due to injury. Baleba received treatment during the break and was replaced by Jean Onana.

Of course, leaving early this season is nothing new for Baleba. He has only completed two full 90-minute matches for Brighton, the most recent being in early November. His summer transfer to Manchester United fell through, and he suffered a knee injury, causing a significant decline in his fitness and performance levels.

It is said that Baleba is very eager to move to Old Trafford, but Brighton’s £100 million asking price is clearly too high for Manchester United. He certainly won’t transfer in the January window, and whether anyone will sign him in the summer depends on how well he recovers moving forward.