During Sir Alex Ferguson’s 27 years in charge of Manchester United, he installed a winning mentality into every single person associated with the football club.
Whether that be the players who operated under guidance, the fans or even the staff behind the scenes at Old Trafford – everyone expected the Red Devils to be winners.
However, the club have now failed to win the Premier League in any of the 13 seasons since his retirement, with only a handful of domestic trophies being won in such a period.
Temporary boss Michael Carrick has brought the feel-good factor back to the side in recent months, as seen by his tally of eight wins during his 12 matches in charge.
It remains to be seen if the 44-year-old will be handed the reins on a permanent basis, but whoever is in the dugout in Manchester next season could be the beneficiary of a huge summer window.
Man Utd begin work on signing Premier League midfielder this summer
Over recent months, United have conducted extensive work on Nottingham Forest star Elliot Anderson, with the view to making a potential move this summer.
At stages, the England international has even been touted as the club’s number one target for the midfield department – even if he will cost a pretty penny.
It’s been reported that the 23-year-old could cost as much as £100m this summer, with Manchester City also keen on a potential move for his signature during the off-season.
Despite the reported interest in Anderson’s services, he’s not the only Englishman in their sights, as Bournemouth star Alex Scott has emerged as a possible option.
According to TEAMtalk, the Red Devils have been spotted watching the 22-year-old on numerous occasions this season, most recently against Newcastle United on Saturday.
The report claims that United are drawing up a list of options they would like to pursue in the summer, with Scott just one player who ranks highly at present.
It’s unclear how much a deal could cost this summer, but there’s no denying he would be seen as a cheaper alternative to fellow target, Anderson, with some reports detailing a £50m asking price.
Why Scott would be United’s own Anderson
Anderson has been one of United’s main targets in recent times and understandably so given his rapid rise to stardom at the City Ground.
The 23-year-old has even become a regular in the England international setup over recent months, with Thomas Tuchel just one of many who are huge fans of the midfielder.
However, his importance to Forest simply can’t be understated, with owner Evangelos Marinakis said to personally be handing negotiations this summer – so good luck to any interested party.
The £100m price tag demonstrates how highly his current employers rate the youngster, which, coupled with Marinakis’ current stance, could make a deal tricky to complete.
As a result, Scott could well prove to be a viable option for United this summer, with the club getting their own version of the Forest star should they reach an agreement.
Like Anderson, he’s recently forced his way into the England squad, whilst producing numerous quality displays for the Cherries and helping them push for European football.
His underlying stats at both ends of the pitch demonstrate his quality, with many of his figures ranking similarly to his compatriot in the Premier League this term.
|
Alex Scott – PL stats (2025/26) |
|
|---|---|
|
Statistics (per 90) |
Tally |
|
Games played |
33 |
|
Goals & assists |
4 |
|
Pass accuracy |
85% |
|
Dribble success |
55% |
|
Duels won |
57% |
|
Aerials won |
58% |
|
Tackles made |
1.9 |
|
Ball recoveries |
5.8 |
Said to be “like prime Roy Keane” by some Man Utd content creators, Scott has managed to complete 85% of his passes so far this season – the same as the Forest star – whilst also managing to complete 55% of the dribbles he’s attempted.
The latter of the aforementioned figures ranks him within the top 20% of midfielders in the division, highlighting the talent he possesses when in transition.
However, without the ball, the 22-year-old has been just as impressive, subsequently making 1.9 tackles and 5.8 ball recoveries per 90 so far throughout 2025/26.
Both reflect his excellent ability to regain possession for his side, something which the Red Devils will greatly lack when Casemiro departs the club at the end of his contract.
Scott’s 57% duel success rate and 58% aerials won tallies further add to his excellent ability out of possession, which could make him a superb deep-lying option for United.
His talent with the ball also could see him be a conductor at the heart of the side upon any transfer – arguably being a more versatile option than Anderson.
As previously mentioned, it’s unclear how much the Cherries would demand for the Englishman, but he’s a player who could massively transform United’s midfield upon any move.
At just 22, he has bags of time to develop further, which could make him an excellent investment for the club’s immediate and long-term aims of Premier League glory.
Whilst Anderson may remain as the club’s top target, a deal for Scott could be more cost-effective but also help the club land a talent who has more to offer in the years ahead.
Cunha 2.0: Man Utd accelerating move to sign “the new Mbappe” for £50m
Manchester United have set their sights on a move for a new attacking star.
