Rio Ferdinand has called on Manchester Unitedto overlook Sandro Tonali and pursue Elliot Anderson instead. Tonali has been mooted as a potential target for Michael Carrick's side, with Newcastle United anticipated to weigh up major sales if they fail to qualify for European competition.

With the Magpies poised to miss out on a top‐five finish and confronting strict financial regulations domestically and in Europe, only a substantial sale, such as Tonali, would generate space for transfer spending and wages. Speculation heated up last month when Tonali's agent, Giuseppe Riso, delivered an interview in which he virtually confirmed the midfielder could be on the market.

Riso said a final decision would arrive after the World Cup but acknowledged discussions are already taking place: "The transfer market essentially starts when the tournament ends. Clearly, you start setting up many negotiations now."

However, Ferdinand reckons United should overlook Tonali entirely and concentrate their efforts on Nottingham Forest's Anderson instead. "At the start of the season everyone was talking about [Carlos] Baleba, but he seems to have dipped a little bit in terms of form," he stated on the Rio Ferdinand Presents podcast.

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"Elliot Anderson, he seems to have jumped to the front of the queue. I think he's a wonderful player. I think Elliot Anderson is the right type not only of player but character, I think he'd be a good addition to the squad.

"But I just think the type of midfielder United need is somebody who is a bit more all-action, who can cover ground, who is dynamic, who is robust, strong, who can drive a team. Right now, Anderson seems to be ticking those boxes.

"But I think there are a few other young guns out there – I won't mention their names yet because I don't want anyone else to get on that scent."

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Forest, currently 16th in the standings and merely three points clear of the drop zone, could see a summer clear-out if they fail to preserve their top-flight status. Anderson would be amongst the players expected to depart.

Discussing which areas United ought to strengthen in the summer transfer window, the United legend added: "If I was the club, my priorities would be two central midfielders, one who starts and maybe a younger one who you can blood in here and there around Bruno [Fernandes], Kobbie [Mainoo] and the one you bring in.

"I would also go for another forward, a younger one who is going to be more of a back-up to what we've already got. And I would go for a full-back. That's it. I know you can say you want 10 new players and most positions can be improved, but I don't think you need a huge revamp, it's still a lot, but that's realistic."

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