Manchester United believes £60 million can secure a backup England international; M. Fernandes remains more favored, and Real Madrid has no intention to bid.

Manchester United has reached a full agreement with Atalanta's Ederson, and is now preparing to advance its midfield rebuild by signing a second new midfielder. This week, rumors linking Bournemouth midfielder Alex Scott with the Red Devils have intensified.

According to The Athletic, United is adopting a "wide-net" negotiation strategy this summer. The transfer department has already contacted several candidate players, including Scott, to understand the financial plan required to sign the young England international.

Although Bournemouth has no intention of selling their midfield cornerstone, they prefer to extend Scott's contract with a long-term deal. The Cherries are planning to include a release clause worth around £75 million in the new contract. However, United believes they have a chance to reach a transfer agreement close to £60 million this summer.

Under the guidance of former Bournemouth head coach Andoni Iraola, the 22-year-old Scott has made rapid progress. In the defensive midfield role, his specialty is driving forward with the ball. Data shows that Scott currently outperforms Kobbie Mainoo in regaining possession. Of course, his forward passing is not as good as Mainoo's.

Scott has missed only one Premier League match, helping Bournemouth secure European qualification. Due to his appearance, he has also been nicknamed the "Guernsey Dalglish." Although Scott was not selected for England's 26-man World Cup squad, he was called up by Tuchel to travel with the team to Florida, USA, as the "first-choice substitute," ready to step in for the World Cup if needed.

Scott is expected to make his England debut on Wednesday evening when Tuchel's team faces Costa Rica in their final warm-up match before the World Cup. If any teammate gets injured, Scott is the only player eligible to directly replace him in the squad.

Manchester United has identified Scott as a potential target, and club women's defender Maya Le Tissier is his stepsister. However, Scott's transfer is not easy to achieve. According to talkSPORT, Bournemouth is aware that many Premier League clubs are interested in Scott, but they remain determined to keep him this summer. Therefore, Bournemouth has set a price tag of £80 million to deter potential buyers and hopes Scott will sign a new contract.

Bournemouth owner Bill Foley greatly admires Scott, comparing him to Nottingham Forest's Elliot Anderson and Newcastle United's Sandro Tonali—both of whom are also targets for Manchester United, with prices exceeding £80 million or even £100 million.

From Manchester United's perspective, a long-term analysis suggests that West Ham's Matheus Fernandes offers better investment value. He is more well-rounded and has a higher ceiling. West Ham also hopes to sell M. Fernandes for over £80 million and is currently unwilling to lower the price. However, United believes his price will inevitably drop significantly later on.

Although rumors suggest new Real Madrid coach Mourinho is also interested in the 21-year-old M. Fernandes, the Portuguese youngster is not the club's priority target. The "Galacticos" have no intention of spending big money to compete with Premier League giants for him. M. Fernandes has always admired Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes and has expressed a desire to move to Old Trafford.

Transfer journalist Sean Connolly says that while Mourinho does appreciate M. Fernandes, he is just one of the players Real Madrid is considering, not a definite choice. Super agent Jorge Mendes is behind the rumors linking M. Fernandes to Real Madrid, as he seeks to maximize his own and the player's interests.

Connolly stated: "M. Fernandes is one of several players Mourinho admires, but he is not currently his top target. Players with such ability and potential attract interest from many European clubs, so the Real Madrid rumors are not surprising. However, the player's price tag remains in question. Of course, considering M. Fernandes still has significant room for growth, the situation is delicate. He has already chosen Manchester United, and the club is continuing its efforts to agree on a suitable transfer fee."