Manchester United went into this summer thinking midfield would be the easy fix. Casemiro walked out the door as a free agent, and the plan was straightforward: go get Mateus Fernandes and call it a day.
Tottenham had other ideas. Spurs stepped in and outspent United for Fernandes, which left the Old Trafford brass scrambling for Plan B. And Plan C. Maybe even Plan D at this point.
According to reports out of England, Bournemouth’s Alex Scott is still very much on United’s radar. They’ve liked the 22-year-old for a while now, even though he’s apparently a Spurs fan. That detail might sting a little more after what happened with Fernandes.
Scott won’t come cheap though. Bournemouth has been telling anyone who asks that he’s not for sale, and they’re working on extending a contract that already runs through 2028. Earlier this summer the asking price was around £60 million. Now? Probably higher. The market has gone nuts — Elliot Anderson just went to Manchester City for £116 million, and Fernandes himself commanded a huge fee.
Tyler Adams and other names in the mix
Bournemouth teammate Tyler Adams is also getting a look from United. The U.S. men’s national team captain has been turning heads at the World Cup, and his physical style fits what United might need in the middle of the park. But Bournemouth isn’t exactly eager to sell him either.
Then there’s Aurelien Tchouameni. Real Madrid’s French midfielder is on United’s shortlist, but let’s be real here — that one is a long shot. The cost would be massive, and his role under Jose Mourinho at Madrid is still unclear. Mourinho just went back to the Bernabeu, so Tchouameni’s situation bears watching.
Borussia Dortmund’s Felix Nmecha is another name floating around. United is casting a wide net, which is what happens when your first choice gets poached by a rival.
The funny thing is, Bournemouth isn’t the only club interested in Scott. Arsenal likes him. Manchester City, Chelsea, and yeah, Tottenham have all been watching too. So even if United decides to push harder for Scott, they’ll have company.
Right now it feels like United is in that uncomfortable phase where every option has a catch. Too expensive, not available, or already picked by someone else. The window is still young though. Something has to give eventually.
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