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  "path": "/2026/07/03/man-utd-offered-england-star-chance-captain-pulling-transfer-29031608/",
  "publishedAt": "2026-07-03T18:17:23.000Z",
  "site": "https://metro.co.uk",
  "tags": [
    "Football",
    "Sport",
    "Bruno Fernandes",
    "Elliot Anderson",
    "Manchester City FC",
    "Manchester City Transfer News",
    "Manchester United",
    "Manchester United Transfer News",
    "Nottingham Forest",
    "Transfer News and Rumours",
    "England",
    "Michael Carrick",
    "Tottenham",
    "Manchester City",
    "Sign up now",
    "World Cup",
    "late enquiry into signing him",
    "The Athletic",
    "Bournemouth’s Alex Scott",
    "check our sport page",
    "Facebook",
    "Twitter",
    "Instagram",
    "Add Metro as a Preferred Source on Google\nAdd as preferred source"
  ],
  "textContent": "Bruno Fernandes has been Man Utd captain since 2023 (Photo: Getty)\n\nManchester United reportedly offered an England World Cup star the chance to become their future captain, but ultimately decided against signing the player.\n\nAfter completing a deal to sign Atalanta’s Ederson, Michael Carrick is aiming to buy at least one more central midfielder this summer transfer window.\n\nThat process is not going well however, as their two top targets have decided to join rival clubs, with Matheus Fernandes off to Tottenham and Elliot Anderson heading to Manchester City.\n\nCity confirmed the signing of Anderson from Nottingham Forest on Thursday, with the £116million deal making him the most expensive British footballer of all time.\n\n##  Don't miss a World Cup moment\n\nEngland's hero (Picture:Getty)\n\nWhat a rollercoaster this has been. Make sense of the drama with **Metro's** free daily newsletter, featuring England updates, match previews and exclusive analysis. Sign up now.\n\nThe 23-year-old excelled in a struggling Forest side last season and quickly became a key player in Thomas Tuchel’s England team, starting every game for the Three Lions at the 2026 World Cup so far.\n\nUnited had long been linked with the midfielder and as negotiations with City appeared to stall, they made a late enquiry into signing him.\n\nDuring these talks with Anderson, The Athletic report that the Red Devils suggested that the player could even receive the honour of becoming club captain if he signed.\n\nMan Utd tried to sign Elliot Anderson before he joined Man City (Photo: Getty)\n\nWhile nothing was guaranteed, United believed Anderson would develop the leadership qualities required to follow in the footsteps of Bruno Fernandes, Carrick, Wayne Rooney, Gary Neville and Roy Keane.\n\nIn the end, the Red Devils decided they could not justify spending the amount of money Forest were demanding and decided to pursue other targets.\n\nOne of those targets was Newcastle’s Sandro Tonali but like Fernandes, the Italian is now on his way to Spurs.\n\nUnited are looking at Alex Scott after missing out on Anderson (Photo: Getty)\n\nAlso on Carrick’s shortlist is Bournemouth’s Alex Scott, who just missed out on a place in the England squad, and Real Madrid duo Aurelien Tchouameni and Eduardo Camavinga.\n\nAnderson is expected to be in England’s line-up again for the huge round of 16 clash against Mexico on Monday morning.\n\n**For more stories like this, check our sport page**.\n\n**Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on**Facebook,** Twitter and Instagram**.\n\nComment now Comments \nAdd Metro as a Preferred Source on Google\nAdd as preferred source\n",
  "title": "Man Utd offered England star chance to be captain before pulling out of transfer"
}