He’s shades of Rooney: Man United ready to move ASAP for £100m-plus sensation

When Wayne Rooney traveled to Carrington to go to his former teammate and new Manchester United supervisor Michael Carrick, it felt like simply yesterday that the pair had been serving to Sir Alex Ferguson dominate English soccer. Time flies.

Sure, it was 22 years in the past that United received a fierce battle for the Everton sensation, following a breakthrough match at Euro 2004 that noticed Rooney transfer to Outdated Trafford as a young person.

Each elite membership within the Premier League, and doubtless Europe as nicely, wished to signal the 18-year-old marvel, however ultimately it turned out he was destined for Manchester, the place he would depart 13 years later because the membership’s all-time prime scorer.

Again to the current, United are additionally attempting to win the race to signal one other potential England star.

Man United getting ready to make new transfer to signal expertise price over £100m

It is already been an fascinating summer season for Thomas Tuchel’s World Cup squad, with Anthony Gordon becoming a member of Barcelona in a shock deal that might have implications for Marcus Rashford’s personal future on the Camp Nou.

Three Lions team-mate Morgan Rodgers has additionally attracted vital curiosity from the likes of Arsenal and United after a wonderful season with Aston Villa, and the 23-year-old may turn out to be Tuchel’s go-to participant forward of Jude Bellingham in the US.

Maybe essentially the most intense switch battle is more likely to focus on one other participant anticipated to start out this summer season, Elliott Anderson, with the Pink Devils and Manchester Metropolis at present vying for his signature.

As revealed by journalist Peter Corridor, Metropolis are at present regarded as the frontrunners, however Anderson is claimed to be eager on a transfer, with a possible switch payment of over £100m.

That stated, Corridor means that INEOS shouldn’t be out of the image but, with the Outdated Trafford aspect nonetheless ready to make a “severe play” for the 23-year-old.

Given Corridor’s earlier reviews that the Man Metropolis deal is regarded as “very superior”, that may recommend the Pink Devils want to maneuver shortly, particularly with the World Cup looming.

Why Anderson could possibly be a Rooney-style participant for Manchester United

Rooney was nonetheless a young person when he took Euro 2004 by storm. That summer season was exactly the second when he made himself recognized to the broader world, even when his expertise was not but apparent to Premier League audiences beforehand.

Anderson, 23, hasn’t burst onto the scene in the identical approach, however like his compatriot, this summer season’s main match could possibly be the stage for him to take his sport to a brand new degree after two spectacular seasons at Nottingham Forest.

Unusually, the Geordie playmaker, who was offered by Newcastle United in the summertime of 2024, was not even thought of for his dwelling nation at that stage. He’s now set to be Declan Rice’s beginning companion on the World Cup.

What an enchancment this was, as he bagged two positive assists in Forest’s 3-2 defeat to Carrick’s aspect, and the midfielder’s undoubted expertise was revealed in a form of audition at Outdated Trafford earlier this month.

He, like Rooney earlier than him, has a “huge child on the playground” vibe to his sport, somebody who can do all of it from field to field.

Certainly, former Bristol Rovers team-mate Glenn Whelan gushed about Anderson’s skill to “grasp the sport by the scruff of the neck”, whereas additionally hailing him as a “throwback” within the mould of Paul Gascoigne.

Rooney, who was affectionately often called “Wazza” in his youth, isn’t any stranger to such comparisons, and his likeness as soon as once more underlines why Anderson is such a gorgeous goal.

Equally to Rooney, he looks like he can be utilized anyplace on the pitch, having performed as a No. 6, No. 8 and even No. 10 on the Metropolis Floor, and as a winger throughout his mortgage spell at Bristol, and is more likely to proceed to take action.

As he confirmed in opposition to United most just lately, the previous Magpies star boasts a powerful passing vary just like Rooney’s but additionally has an arm of metal to match Silk, ending the season fourth within the division for complete tackles.

He isn’t afraid to place his foot down, but has an finish product, and his sport has an nearly road soccer participant model.

So greater than 20 years after plucking Rooney from Everton, when it appeared his growth had outgrown the Toffees, United should have hope of securing an identical deal for Anderson this time round.