Man Utd step up pursuit of £80m Arsenal and Chelsea target after missing Mateus Fernandes deal

Manchester United will reportedly turn their attention towards trying to sign Arsenal and Chelsea target Alex Scott after missing out on a deal for Mateus Fernandes.

The Red Devils have made strengthening their midfield a key priority over the summer transfer window and have already agreed a deal for Brazil international Ederson.

United also held extensive talks to sign Fernandes, and the West Ham midfielder had prioritised a move to Old Trafford this summer.

However, Tottenham appear to have won the race to sign Fernandes after agreeing to pay West Ham’s £85million asking price and offering the 21-year-old a more impressive salary package.

United will resume their efforts to sign a midfielder, and transfer expert Ben Jacobs reports that they will now explore a deal for Bournemouth midfielder Scott.

The 22-year-old only missed one of Bournemouth’s league games last season as they secured a brilliant sixth-place finish to qualify for Europe for the first time.

Scott’s form almost saw him named in England’s World Cup squad, but Thomas Tuchel instead opted for Jordan Henderson and Kobbie Mainoo as his back-ups for Declan Rice and Elliot Anderson.

Despite that, Scott was one of five players who joined the England squad’s preparation camp in the United States ahead of the tournament, with interest in his services for next season only heightening since then.

Premier League champions Arsenal are also believed to be admirers of Scott as they too look to strengthen Mikel Arteta’s title-winning midfield.

Chelsea and Manchester City are also said to be interested in Scott, who has two years left on his current deal at Bournemouth.

The Cherries are said to have slapped an £80m asking price on the midfielder and are keen to discuss terms on a new deal with Scott, which could include a release clause.

United have been linked with several other midfielders, including Aurelien Tchouameni, Carlos Baleba and Sandro Tonali.

And Rio Ferdinand wants his former club to prioritise a move for the Real Madrid star, who faces an uncertain future in Spain after a high-profile fight with Federico Valverde last season.

‘I’ve woke up to the news that Fernandes from West Ham could be going to Spurs, 80, 80 million, huge money, it’s thrown me,’ Ferdinand said on his YouTube channel.

‘I think Manchester United and Arsenal have made it very clear, they have a stance in this window, they’re not going to overpay for people who they don’t feel they should.

‘You know what, I’m going to put my neck on the line, I think Man United are holding up their money, they’re holding the money back for one man and that’s Tchouameni.

‘If he becomes available in this market, Man United are not going to miss, they can’t afford to miss that one.

‘They may let another couple slip through the bag if the price isn’t right.’

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