Manchester United are prepared to halt their pursuit of a third central midfielder this summer if suitable value cannot be found in the transfer market, according to BBC Sport. The club had previously indicated an interest in strengthening their midfield options following the arrivals of Youri Tielemans from Aston Villa for €41million (£35m) and Andrey Santos from Chelsea for a package worth up to €58m (£50m).
United’s recruitment team, led by Christopher Vivell, have adopted a patient approach to the transfer window, prioritising financially sensible acquisitions. They reportedly declined to compete with Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur for Elliot Anderson (€135m/£116m) and Mateus Fernandes (€99m/£85m) respectively, deeming the asking prices excessive.
The shift in strategy comes after reports emerged suggesting United are backing away from a move for Bournemouth midfielder Alex Scott. The Daily Mirror claims Bournemouth value Scott at €46m (£40m), but are seeking in excess of €80m (£70m) should they allow him to depart, a figure United are unwilling to meet. Chelsea recently had a €75m (£64m) bid for the 22-year-old rejected, indicating Bournemouth’s desire to retain his services.
Scott has established himself as one of the Premier League’s most promising midfielders, playing a key role in Bournemouth’s impressive sixth-place finish and qualification for the UEFA Europa League in the 2025-26 season. Despite not yet earning a full England cap, Scott has been involved with the national team setup, participating in training camps and being named in a provisional World Cup squad. He has also enjoyed success with England’s youth teams, winning the UEFA European Under-19 Championship in 2022 and the Under-21 title in 2025.
While Scott has two years remaining on his current contract, The Athletic reports he has turned down offers of a renewal. United are also reportedly considering other options, including Botafogo’s Danilo and Bournemouth’s Tyler Adams, but the club are now open to the possibility of not adding another midfielder to their squad this window. This pragmatic approach suggests United are content with their current midfield options and will only act if a player becomes available at a reasonable price.
This stance could allow United to allocate resources to other areas of the squad, or potentially save funds for future transfer windows.
