Manchester United’s summer shopping list apparently has “midfielder” underlined several times. The club is actively pursuing Bournemouth’s Alex Scott as a primary target to bolster their engine room, with direct negotiations already underway between United and the player’s representatives.

Scott, who is 22 and under contract at Bournemouth until June 2028, has reportedly expressed willingness to make the move to Old Trafford. The catch, as always in football’s transfer market, is the price tag: Bournemouth has slapped an £80 million valuation on their prized midfielder. That’s more than triple what they paid Bristol City for him back in August 2023, when he moved for roughly £25 million.

A crowded race for Scott’s signature

United isn’t the only club circling. Arsenal, Liverpool, and Chelsea are all reportedly monitoring Scott’s situation, turning this into the kind of multi-club pursuit that tends to drive prices even higher.

There is some good news for United, though. Tottenham, who were previously linked with interest, have apparently cooled on the deal.

Scott’s trajectory since arriving on the south coast has been impressive enough to justify the attention. Before joining Bournemouth, he won the EFL Championship Young Player of the Season award at Bristol City in the 2022-23 season. The England youth international has developed into one of the more dynamic midfield options in the Premier League, combining technical quality with the kind of progressive ball-carrying that modern coaches obsess over.

Why United needs midfield reinforcement

The pursuit of Scott fits into a broader pattern of Manchester United’s transfer strategy. The club has previously targeted players like Elliot Anderson and Mateus Fernandes, suggesting that finding the right midfielder has been a persistent priority rather than a sudden impulse.

For United, the question is whether Scott is worth that kind of outlay when the club is trying to sign “at least one more midfielder,” implying multiple signings could be on the agenda. Spending £80 million on one player could limit flexibility elsewhere in the squad.

The fact that no formal agreement has been reached despite direct talks suggests the gap between the two clubs remains significant. As of early July 2026, the situation continues to evolve with significant developments looming.

With Scott’s contract running until 2028, Bournemouth holds significant leverage. There’s no urgency to sell, which means United either meets the valuation or moves on.