Manchester United’s midfield rebuild has hit a couple of speed bumps this summer. But the club insists it’s not panicking.
After losing out on Elliot Anderson to Manchester City and watching Mateus Fernandes slip to Tottenham, United’s midfield shopping list now includes Alex Scott of Bournemouth and Brighton’s Carlos Baleba, according to the Manchester Evening News.
Let’s rewind a bit. Anderson was supposed to be the guy replacing Casemiro, whose contract option United declined. But Nottingham Forest wanted a massive fee, and INEOS walked away. City then swooped in with a £116 million deal that made United’s decision look kind of smart in hindsight.
Fernandes was the fallback plan. The West Ham kid had back-to-back relegations on his resume, which is rough for a young player, but United saw the upside. West Ham wanted £85 million though, which felt steep for a player now in the Championship. United figured they could haggle down to around £60 million. Then Tottenham jumped in, agreed to meet West Ham’s asking price, and offered Fernandes a salary United wouldn’t touch.
One thing that bothered United’s brass: Fernandes never made it clear he really wanted to come to Old Trafford. That’s become a big deal for them this summer. They want players who actually want to be there.
So now the focus shifts.
Alex Scott and the Bournemouth Problem
Scott is a 22-year-old England U21 midfielder who Bournemouth really likes. Like, really likes. They already turned down an inquiry from Arsenal. United has interest, confirmed by multiple reports, but getting the Cherries to sell won’t be easy.
Scott’s game is more about technical control and progressive passing, which would fit what United needs. But the price tag on a player his age with Premier League experience and no release clause is going to be steep.
Carlos Baleba: The Fallback Who Might Actually Fall In
United pursued Baleba last summer too. He agreed to personal terms back then, but Brighton refused to negotiate. The Seagulls are famously tough at the negotiating table. Chairman Tony Bloom doesn’t give discounts.
Baleba’s form took a dip after the transfer fell through, which raises questions. He’s a defensive midfielder, strong without the ball, which United could use. His passing is less of a strength, and there are concerns about his mentality after the dip. But the old personal terms from last year might still be on the table if Bloom drops the fee — rumored to be around £100 million last summer.
If Bloom plays ball, Baleba could be a Red Devil. If he doesn’t, United moves on, again.
The club points to last summer’s patience — they waited and landed Senne Lammens, Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo, and Benjamin Sesko for about £235 million combined. They think that model works. But summer doesn’t last forever, and midfield is still a glaring hole.
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