It felt like 2025 was the year when Manchester United finally got it right again in the recruitment department, even after suffering their worst-ever Premier League finish under Ruben Amorim.
At their lowest ebb, the Red Devils showcased that they remain an attractive destination regardless, having first welcomed in Matheus Cunha on a £62.5m deal.
A deal was also eventually done for Brentford’s Bryan Mbeumo, despite intense competition for the Cameroonian, while the Old Trafford side pounced to secure Benjamin Sesko ahead of a luckless Newcastle United.
Throw Senne Lammens into the mix, and it was a case of job well done for the INEOS regime, although 12 months on, things aren’t going quite as smoothly.
Could there finally be some positive news emerging, however?
Man United frontrunners to seal £80m Mateus Fernandes alternative
With Elliot Anderson opting to become the first signing of the new post-Pep Guardiola era at Manchester City, United had shifted their priorities toward West Ham United starlet, Mateus Fernandes.
Like with the case of Anderson, however, the financials of that deal prove something of a stumbling block, with INEOS also gaining no assurances that the 21-year-old actually wanted to seal the move.
As it is, the Portuguese playmaker is now the second-most expensive player in Tottenham Hotspur history at £85m, having only joined the Hammers on a £40m deal a year earlier.
As for those at Old Trafford, they do at least have a list of exciting alternatives, with Sky Sports outlining that Bournemouth’s Alex Scott has become a ‘high-priority’.
The suggestion is that United, alongside Arsenal, can be considered the frontrunners in the race to sign the Guernsey-born midfielder, albeit with the Cherries still intent on keeping hold of the 22-year-old.
The south coast side are hopeful of handing the youngster a bumper new deal to ward off any interest, although there have been claims that an £80m fee would be enough to strike an agreement.
Why Scott can be Man Utd’s answer to Fernandes
Be it Sesko, Viktor Gyokeres, Alexander Isak or Hugo Ekitike, last year proved to be the summer of the striker. Now, it’s all about the midfield chase.
Man City have snapped up Anderson, while Arsenal are keen on bringing Bruno Guimaraes into the fold.
The biggest players have been Spurs, however, with the capture of Fernandes followed up by the record deal for Sandro Tonali.
The Premier League elite are all moving in the midfield market, and United are in danger of being left behind, as potential options begin to be trimmed.
Indeed, at 21 and with two years of Premier League football behind him, young Fernandes felt like a perfect fit, not least due to his admiration for compatriot, Bruno Fernandes.
He could well have been a long-term solution in the heart of United’s midfield, although so too could Scott if that deal can be struck, with the England youth star still only 22 himself.
Part of the side that claimed U21 European Championship glory alongside Anderson in 2025, Scott is a balletic, delight of a midfielder, someone who floats around the pitch in his deep-lying number eight role.
Scott vs M Fernandes – 25/26 PL | ||
|---|---|---|
Scott | Stat (per 90) | M Fernandes |
1.39 | Shots | 0.83 |
0.13 | Big chances | 0.06 |
0.13 | Big chances created | 0.06 |
0.44 | Deep carries | 0.18 |
0.91 | Succ. dribbles | 0.83 |
1.54 | Progressive carries | 1.10 |
1.67 | Carries to final third | 1.10 |
Formerly of Bristol City, his talents have particularly begun to blossom over the last 12 months or so after an injury-disrupted start to life at the Vitality, notably standing out as the Cherries beat Arsenal at the Emirates earlier this year.
He was also influential in the 2-2 draw with Michael Carrick’s men last term, winning 100% of his duels and tackles on the night, while boasting 82 touches as he ran the show up against Casemiro and co.
Even despite his youth, there’s such control and composure to his game, much like new Spurs man, Fernandes.
Indeed, he ended the campaign with an 85% pass accuracy rate in the top-flight, just below Fernandes’s 87% average. For context, Casemiro’s own average was way down at just 81%.
Like Fernandes too, Scott is a combative sort as well, boasting 2.6 tackles and interceptions per game, while recording 5.3 recoveries on average. The ex-West Ham starlet enjoyed a similar record of 3.9 and 5.1 for those same two metrics, respectively.
Neither player is prolific, although they both chalked up three goals in largely spectacular, sweeping style, while Scott just about edged his Premier League counterpart in terms of ‘big chances’ created (four vs three).
There is a real likeness there to be seen, ensuring that for all the frustration of seeing the Lilywhites snap up Fernandes, United could still make a statement, exciting midfield move of their own for a real star in the making.
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