Manchester United Shift Focus from Elliot Anderson to Scott and Fernandes
Manchester United have walked away from the Elliot Anderson chase, and the decision says as much about their new transfer discipline as it does about the player himself.
For much of the summer, United hovered on the fringes of the Anderson conversation, watching as Nottingham Forest’s midfielder drew admiring – and increasingly desperate – glances from across the Premier League. Any faint prospect of a move to Old Trafford has now evaporated.
David Ornstein reports for The Athletic that Manchester City have had a bid totalling £121 million rejected for Anderson. One hundred and twenty-one million. For United, that figure didn’t just end the discussion. It underlined why they were never truly in it.
The club, according to Ornstein, refuse to be dragged into a bidding war that makes little footballing or financial sense. Under the new Ineos-led structure, the days of chasing every inflated auction appear to be over. Instead, United have quietly narrowed their focus to two very different names: Alex Scott and Mateus Fernandes.
Scott and Fernandes Move to the Front of the Queue
If £121m for Anderson looks like chaos, United’s alternative plan feels calculated.
Ornstein names Scott and Fernandes as the midfielders now at the heart of United’s recruitment drive. Crucially, both are understood to be keen on the move to Old Trafford. That already marks a contrast with Anderson, whose camp is believed to be pushing for a hefty wage package.
The numbers tell their own story. Scott is thought to be valued at around £60m, with the realistic expectation that a deal could be done closer to £50m with add-ons. West Ham, for their part, are said to want £80m for Fernandes, but with pressure on their finances, there is a strong sense they would accept a lower overall package.
Put together, United could potentially land both Scott and Fernandes for a combined outlay in the same ballpark as Anderson’s fee alone. One over-inflated target, or two high-ceiling midfielders entering their prime years. The choice, for a club trying to rebuild sensibly, is obvious.
Built for Carrick’s Midfield Three
This isn’t just about price. It’s about fit.
Michael Carrick is preparing to shift United towards a midfield three, a structure that borrows heavily from the control and technical security seen in sides like PSG. To make that work, he needs legs, intelligence, and bravery on the ball. He needs midfielders who can press, receive under pressure, and knit the game together.
Scott and Fernandes tick those boxes. Both are technical. Both are hard-working. Both are still developing, with their peak years ahead of them. They offer energy and quality rather than marquee noise.
There’s another, very practical advantage. Neither player is involved in the World Cup, which means they would be available from the very start of pre-season. For a coach trying to install a new structure, that time is gold.
Pre-Season Clarity, Not Chaos
United’s summer plans took a twist when Ederson received a late call-up to the Brazil squad. That decision removed another senior option from Carrick’s early pre-season sessions and left Mason Mount as the only established midfielder certain to be available from day one.
Drop two new signings into that environment, and the picture changes quickly. Scott and Fernandes would give Carrick a core he can actually work with, shape, and build around before the competitive games begin. Tactically, that matters as much as any headline fee.
So United step away from Anderson, watching Manchester City throw huge numbers at a deal that still isn’t over the line. Instead, they move towards a double midfield rebuild that looks more sustainable, more strategic, and far more in tune with the club they are trying to become.
If they land Scott and Fernandes, this won’t just be a rejection of one player. It will be a statement about an entire era of recruitment they are determined to leave behind.
