Rio Ferdinand tells Manchester United to sign ‘wonderful’ £80m midfielder instead of Bruno Guimaraes

Rio Ferdinand has urged Manchester United to sign Elliot Anderson ahead Newcastle United duo Bruno Guimaraes and Sandro Tonali this summer.

United are in the market for a new central midfielder and Anderson, who is valued by Nottingham Forest at £80 million, is one of the top names on their shortlist.

Brighton midfielder Carlos Baleba had also attracted interest from United last summer, while reports this week have claimed that the club have already made an approach to sign Newcastle United captain Bruno Guimaraes.

But speaking after United’s 2-2 draw against Bournemouth on Friday night, Ferdinand believes his former club should prioritise a move for Anderson, who is also wanted by Manchester City.

‘Beginning of the season everyone was talking about [Carlos] Baleba, he seems to have gone off the boil a little bit form wise,’ Ferdinand said.

‘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 thin he’d be a good addition to the squad.

‘Tonali is a big talent that everyone is talking about, Guimaraes is another big talent that everyone is talking about, 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 who I won’t mention their names yet because I don’t want anyone else to get on that scent.’

Speaking earlier on Friday, Newcastle manager Eddie Howe branded Guimaraes’ links with a move to United as ‘nonsense’ and ‘disrespectful’.

‘I don’t even know how to respond to that. I don’t even think I should because it’s a waste of my energy,’ Howe said.

‘I’m not going to be impolite because I don’t think it’s the forum to do that in. For me it’s a nonsense story.

‘Bruno’s our captain, he’s fully committed. He’s injured at the moment, his only focus is coming back to fitness.

‘For me, it is not the time to think about it. In the summer, you can understand those stories a little bit more because the transfer window is open.

‘To say our captain is in discussions with another club is totally disrespectful to Bruno more than anything else. He is totally committed here.’

For more stories like this, check our sport page.

Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.