Manchester United might be cooling on the idea of paying a massive fee for Mateus Fernandes. Reports now suggest the club has shifted focus to Bournemouth’s Alex Scott, a player they believe could be available for a significantly lower price.
The i Paper reports that United are growing uneasy about West Ham’s demands for Fernandes, a 21-year-old Portugal international. The Championship club is asking for something in the neighborhood of £80 million. United have reportedly stepped up talks but are prepared to walk away if the price doesn’t come down.
That’s where Alex Scott comes in. The 22-year-old Bournemouth midfielder has two years left on his contract and the Cherries are publicly insisting he’s not for sale. But United’s internal belief is that a fee well under £80 million could get it done. No formal contact between the clubs has happened yet, but talks with Scott’s representatives are reportedly ongoing.
Scott is a press-resistant dribbler who likes to carry the ball forward. Pep Guardiola once called him an “unbelievable player,” which is the kind of endorsement that tends to stick. At 5’10”, he’s not the biggest guy on the pitch but he’s got the kind of technical ability that makes him tough to dispossess. United see him as a midfielder who can progress play and keep possession under pressure, which fits a clear need in their squad.
This all comes as United work with a healthy transfer budget. INEOS spent around £250 million last summer even without Champions League football. Now that they’ve qualified for the competition, the expectation is they’ll have even more to spend. But the club has been adamant about not paying what they call a “United tax,” meaning they won’t overpay just because of the badge on the shirt. That approach already led them to pull out of the race for Elliot Anderson, who’s now headed to Manchester City for a record fee around £130 million.
So the math here is pretty straightforward. If United can get Scott for something like £50 million or £60 million, that frees up money to strengthen elsewhere. The Fernandes deal was always going to be a heavy lift and it sounds like United are treating it as such. They’re not desperate. They have other targets.
Tottenham have been monitoring the Fernandes situation closely and could move in if United formally back out. United, meanwhile, are keeping their options open and working the Scott angle quietly. Nothing is close to done yet but the direction of travel is clear: United want a midfielder who can handle pressure and drive play forward, and they want to get him without breaking the bank.
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