United lock horns with Chelsea to sign 22-yo playmaker who blew PL title race wide open – report

Manchester United are braced for a battle with Chelsea to sign Alex Scott after Bournemouth’s asking price for their midfielder has emerged, according to a new report. Under the Radar The Red Devils are prioritising an overhaul of their stalling engine room this summer as Casemiro is set to leave and Manuel Ugarte may be heading out with the Brazilian through the exit door. INEOS are aiming to replicate their trick of fixing the misfiring forward line from last summer by targeting Premier League-proven operators. Elliot Anderson is the primary target, while options such as Carlos Baleba, whom United tried to sign last year, Adam Wharton and Sandro Tonali are also high on the radar. But Scott, Bournemouth’s 22-year-old maestro, is another name on the wish list at Old Trafford who is going under the radar ahead of a potential exit from the Vitality Stadium. The England under-21 international has made 35 appearances in all competitions for the Cherries, scoring four times and assisting once in a breakout season on the south coast. It is his all-round play which has really caught the eye, however, as he functions as the connector between defence and attack for Andoni Iraola’s side. An imperious performance at the Emirates to blow apart the title race between Arsenal and Manchester City showcased his skillset, as he helped Bournemouth outplay the Gunners on their home turf before scoring a superb winner late on to make it 2-1. Alex Scott stats vs Arsenal MetricValue Goals1 Expected goals (xG)0.39 Assists0 Expected assists (xA)0.05 Key passes1 Crosses (accurate)3 (0) Accurate passes40/44 (91%) Passes in opposition half (acc.)17/20 (85%) Passes in own half (acc.)23/24 (96%) Long balls (accurate)3/5 (60%) Total shots2 Expected goals on target (xGOT)0.44 Shots on target1 Shots blocked0 Touches63 Unsuccessful touches1 Dribbles (successful)2 (0) Possession lost13 Total carrying distance213.3 m Carries24 Progressive carries2 Total progression75.1 m Progressive carrying distance56 m Longest progressive carry45.1 m Def. contributions5 Tackles (won)1 (0) Interceptions0 Clearances1 Blocked shots3 Recoveries8 Ground duels (won)8 (1) Fouls1 Dribbled past1 While Scott’s technically sound and tactically strong profile is increasingly common among English midfielders, it remains one more typically reserved for a Spanish or Italian playmaker – and explains why Chelsea are prepared to go toe to toe with United for his signature this summer. Chelsea vs United Sources reveal Chelsea want Scott as part of a “long-term strategy of building a strong English core in midfield”, as per Caught Offside. The Guernsey native is considered an “attractive addition” at Stamford Bridge, while he is similarly admired at Old Trafford. “Man United…are also exploring ways to refresh their midfield, especially as they plan for the gradual transition away from experienced players like Casemiro. “Among Bournemouth supporters, Scott is widely viewed as the future face of the club, a player many believe could one day captain both club and country. Yet there’s also a realistic understanding that exceptional performances eventually attract attention from bigger sides.” Bournemouth are no strangers to top clubs looking to sign their best players, having lost Antoine Semenyo to Manchester City in January and almost their entire backline last summer. There is always a price the south coast club will have in mind, with sources suggesting “offers in the region of £50 million could start serious discussions, with the total potentially climbing toward £60-65 million if multiple clubs enter the race.” Final Thoughts While this is a steep price, it still comes in far below the expected figures for targets such as Anderson or Tonali, potentially enabling Scott to be the second recruit in midfield to bolster a higher-profile target as first choice. United have also been strongly linked with a number of the Englishman’s teammates, including Marcos Senesi, Tyler Adams, Marcus Tavernier and, in particular, French starlet Eli Kroupi Junior. The 19-year-old forward is enjoying a meteoric rise after a stellar debut campaign in England, becoming the first teenager in over two decades to hit double figures in the Premier League. United are understood to be hot on his heels as a potential replacement for Joshua Zirkzee, with Kroupi open to the switch. Featured image Ryan Pierse via Getty Images The Peoples Person has been one of the world’s leading Man United news sites for over a decade. Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social Darragh Fox Darragh is an editor for The Peoples Person who spent three years learning about the Cold War at the University of Sheffield slowly realising football was by far the most interesting thing to write about. Amad’s first touch should be officially recognised as the eighth wonder of the world.