Manchester United’s summer shopping list just got a brutal red pen through two of its biggest names. The club initially targeted Bournemouth’s Alex Scott and Brighton’s Carlos Baleba as centerpiece midfield signings, but the price tags, estimated at £80-85 million for Scott and approaching £100 million for Baleba, apparently proved too rich even for INEOS-backed ambitions.

From dream targets to sticker shock

Back in June 2026, reports placed both Scott and Baleba firmly on United’s shortlist as the club looked to reshape its midfield following a third-place Premier League finish. The plan reportedly hinged on selling Manuel Ugarte to generate transfer funds.

By mid-July, INEOS reportedly halted pursuit of both players. The combined outlay for Scott and Baleba could have exceeded £180 million.

Baleba has apparently told Brighton that joining Manchester United is his dream move. United is now reportedly scanning the market for midfielders priced below £40 million, with Sander Berge identified as a potential alternative target. That’s less than half of what Scott alone would cost.

INEOS and the budget rebuild experiment

INEOS took charge of United’s football operations with a mandate to bring rationality to a club that had become synonymous with overspending on underperforming players. A third-place finish gave United Champions League revenue and a platform to attract top talent, yet INEOS appears to be prioritizing sustainable squad building over splashy headline signings.

Baleba’s reported eagerness to join adds an interesting wrinkle. When a player publicly signals his preferred destination, it typically weakens the selling club’s negotiating position over time. Brighton might hold firm now, but if Baleba’s desire to leave intensifies, the price could come down in future windows.