Manchester United have stepped away from the Alex Scott chase after Bournemouth held firm on a valuation of more than £70m. United are only prepared to go to around £40m, so the deal has moved from a talent discussion to a price one. Scott is expected to decide his future within the next two weeks, with Arsenal said to be the preferred destination.
Bournemouth's asking price
The gap is not small. Bournemouth finished 6th in the Premier League with 57 points, and that finish gives them room to resist a cut-price sale. Scott's recent Premier League form has also stayed strong, with his last five ratings averaging 7.24, so United are not walking away because the player has gone cold.
What has changed is United's stance. They will pursue alternative options instead, rather than chase Bournemouth up to a figure they do not want to pay. That makes the move simple from United's side, even if it leaves Scott in a stronger market than he was a few weeks ago.
United's wider budget choices
The same report also says Bruno Fernandes is set to stay, with a source close to United saying: "Bruno Fernandes has agreed to commit his future to Manchester United with the Portuguese sensation set to confirm his stay at Old Trafford before the end of this month."
That lines up with another source line on his deal status: "Fernandes has entered the last season of his current contract, but has the option of a 12-month extension."
Fernandes arrived from Sporting Lisbon in a £47m move in 2020, and United's choice to hold the line on Scott while keeping Fernandes in place says a lot about where the budget sits. Arsenal's five straight wins across league and Champions League matches make them look like the best landing spot if Scott wants that move and Bournemouth keep the same stance.
Scott may still choose to stay put, but the next two weeks should decide whether this becomes an Arsenal move or just another near-miss for United.
Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 2 outlets. How we work →
