Manchester United Target Bournemouth’s Alex Scott Amid Chelsea Interest
Manchester United’s midfield overhaul is not slowing down. Having already ripped up and rewritten the engine room this summer, the club are now pushing to prise Alex Scott away from Bournemouth before Chelsea can get there first.
United have already brought in Andrey Santos from Chelsea for £48m, Youri Tielemans from Aston Villa for £35m, veteran goalkeeper Karl Darlow on a free from Leeds United and young stopper Tynan Thompson from Tottenham for £8m. The message from Old Trafford has been clear: fix the middle of the pitch, and fix it now.
Tielemans and Santos were always supposed to be two parts of a three‑man midfield refresh. The final piece has been the subject of constant speculation. Aurelien Tchouameni’s name has hovered in the background, as has Roma’s Manu Kone, both repeatedly linked as potential Casemiro successors.
Now Scott has surged to the front of that queue.
United try to ‘steal a march’ on Chelsea
Scott, 22, has turned down a new contract at Bournemouth, a decision that has triggered serious interest from the Premier League’s elite. According to Football Insider, United are “preparing to step up their pursuit” of the former England Under-21 international and are looking to “steal a march” on Chelsea in the race for his signature.
The feeling around the Vitality Stadium is that Scott is edging closer to the exit. Bournemouth have tried to lock him down on fresh terms. He has said no. That refusal has alerted United, Chelsea and Liverpool, all watching closely to see when Bournemouth’s stance softens.
For United, this is as much about timing as it is about talent. Move now, or watch a player they admire walk into a rival’s dressing room.
Ex-scout: ‘United do not want to miss out’ – but is he the right fit?
Former Manchester United chief scout Mick Brown knows how quickly that kind of regret can set in. Speaking to Football Insider, he underlined the club’s dilemma over Scott.
“It’s a difficult one to predict what’s going to happen with Alex Scott,” Brown said. “He’s a top young player and had a great season for Bournemouth, but in an ideal world, Man United would wait for him to prove himself over another season before making a move.”
That is the tension at the heart of this chase. Scott is highly rated, but still developing. United want a ready-made anchor to replace Casemiro. Brown is not convinced Scott fits that brief.
“I don’t think he’s perfect, by any means, and I’m not sure he’s the right type of player because they want a replacement for Casemiro,” he admitted.
Yet the market rarely allows for patience, especially when rivals circle.
“Having said that, they will be reluctant to see a player they really like end up moving somewhere else, because Liverpool and Chelsea are also keen,” Brown added. “If he’s not signing a new contract, then those interested clubs will all be seeing whether or not he could be allowed to leave, and Man United do not want to miss out.
“But he is somebody they rate very highly, and if the option is to make a move now or watch him move to Liverpool or Chelsea, then they could be tempted to move now and get ahead.”
Bournemouth, for their part, have tried to keep control of the situation. They do not want to lose a key midfielder and have pushed a new deal across the table. Scott’s refusal to sign has shifted the balance of power. Now it is about who blinks first: the club holding out for value, or the suitors trying to strike before the auction begins.
Another new face through the door
While the Scott pursuit gathers pace, United have quietly added another name to their long-term plans.
On Monday the club confirmed the arrival of 19-year-old goalkeeper Kit Margetson after his contract expired at Swansea City. Journalist Ben Jacobs has indicated Swansea will receive compensation via a pre-agreed arrangement between the clubs rather than through a tribunal.
United’s statement described Margetson as an “exciting young goalkeeper”, outlining a steady rise through Swansea’s ranks since the under-15s. Last season, he enjoyed his first taste of senior football on loan at Connah’s Quay Nomads, where he kept 10 clean sheets in 34 appearances and helped the Welsh side qualify for European competition.
He has already been capped at youth level for Wales and made his Under-21 debut against Belarus in March. United welcomed him as part of their next generation of goalkeepers, another piece in a broader squad reshaping that stretches well beyond the first XI.
United’s summer is already busy. With Scott now firmly in their sights and Chelsea lurking, the next move in this midfield chess game could define how bold this rebuild really is.
