Manchester United came up short in their pursuit of Mateus Fernandes. So now they are turning to a Premier League midfielder who has quietly become one of the league’s most complete young players.
Alex Scott of Bournemouth is the new target, according to reports. The 22-year-old has been tearing it up on the south coast since leaving Bristol City. He carries the ball through midfield like a man possessed. He dictates tempo. He gets into the box and creates chances. United’s scouting department has been watching him closely and likes what they see.
But this won’t be a simple deal to get done. Bournemouth knows they have something special in Scott. The club is pushing hard to get him to sign a new contract with a significant release clause. That would protect his value and give them leverage if a big offer comes. Right now, the Cherries value Scott at around £80 million. That is a number United just declined to pay for Fernandes. So they might have to get creative if they want Scott.
There Is Also Competition
United is not the only team in the mix. Arsenal has been the most aggressive so far. They have already been told directly by Bournemouth what it will take to get a deal done. Manchester City, Tottenham, and Chelsea are also keeping tabs. Scott has become the kind of midfielder that half the league wants. That drives the price up.
Arsenal feels like the biggest threat here. They have needed a midfielder like Scott for a while. Someone who can break lines and also defend. Scott does both. He is not just a pretty passer. He gets stuck in.
United needs a midfield boost after missing out on Fernandes. They spent weeks working on that deal and it fell apart. Now they move to Plan B. But Plan B might be just as good. Some scouts think Scott is actually more suited to the Premier League than Fernandes. He has already done it for two seasons here. Fernandes is still playing in Portugal.
Bournemouth is not in a rush to sell. They have Scott under contract and they like the trajectory of the team. But every player has a price. If someone hits that release clause, Scott is gone. United just has to decide if they want to be the ones to pay it.
The summer window is moving fast. United needs to act decisively or they could watch another target slip away. Scott is not going to sit around and wait. Neither will Arsenal.
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