Man United Shift Focus to Tchouameni and Scott After Missing Out on Fernandes

Manchester United didn’t get Mateus Fernandes. That much is clear. Tottenham broke their transfer record to land the 21-year-old for £85 million, and United walked away. Now the question is what comes next.

According to Fabrizio Romano, two names have emerged as internal favorites at Old Trafford. One is a proven Champions League winner. The other is a 22-year-old English kid who hasn’t quite hit his ceiling yet.

Tchouameni Tops the List But There’s a Catch

Aurelien Tchouameni is the kind of midfielder you build a team around. He’s a defensive anchor for Real Madrid, a starter for France at the World Cup where they’ve been steamrolling everyone, and he already has a Champions League trophy on his shelf. United’s recruitment team sees him as a fantastic option, according to Romano.

The problem? Two big ones actually.

First, Real Madrid haven’t given any indication they’re ready to sell. Second, even if they did, Tchouameni’s wages are a sticking point. United are essentially waiting for Madrid to open the door, which might take a while. Maybe all summer. Maybe never.

Alex Scott Is the Other Name

The second option is Bournemouth’s Alex Scott. He’s young, English, and versatile in midfield. United like him. So do Arsenal, apparently. Romano said both clubs are keen.

But Bournemouth aren’t playing ball. They want to keep Scott for at least another season, ideally convincing him to sign a new deal. If they do change their stance, it’ll only happen for big money. We’re talking around £80 million. Which makes you wonder — if United were willing to go that high, why didn’t they just pay the £85 million for Fernandes?

That’s the thing about this summer at Old Trafford. Every move raises new questions about Ineos’ actual plan.

If United want value, they should push harder for Tchouameni or look elsewhere. There are options in Serie A and Ligue 1 that don’t come with English tax attached. Atalanta’s Ederson is one name that keeps floating around.

Right now though, it’s a waiting game. United wait for Madrid. Bournemouth wait for a bid that might not come. And the fans wait for something that actually makes sense.