Manchester United push for £80m Alex Scott after missing out on Anderson and Fernandes

Manchester United are targeting Bournemouth midfielder Alex Scott in a potential £80 million deal, according to a report from The Sun, as the club looks to fill a midfield void ahead of Michael Carrick’s first full season as permanent manager.

The move comes after United missed out on two heavily linked targets in quick succession. Elliot Anderson has agreed to join Manchester City in a deal worth £116 million, while Mateus Fernandes completed a move from West Ham to Tottenham Hotspur for a reported £85 million — a combined outlay of £201 million that United were unable to match or pre-empt.

Casemiro’s departure earlier this summer left a clear gap in United’s midfield, and the club has been active in trying to address it. They have already agreed a deal to sign Ederson from Atalanta for an initial fee of £35 million, with a further £3.8 million in potential add-ons.

Scott, a creative playmaker who has established himself as one of the Premier League’s more eye-catching midfielders at Bournemouth, has been the subject of transfer speculation for some time. Bournemouth are reported to value him at approximately £80 million, though his future at the club remains unresolved. There are suggestions Scott could sign a contract extension with the Cherries, and reports indicate that any new deal would likely include a release clause, though the precise figure has not been disclosed.

United are not alone in their interest. Arsenal and Liverpool have also been credited with interest in Scott during the current transfer window, meaning any pursuit is likely to involve significant competition.

With the window still open and Carrick’s squad-building continuing, United’s midfield situation remains a work in progress — though the Scott link signals the club’s intent to keep pushing for a significant addition in that area.