Manchester United have made direct contact with Bournemouth about sealing a deal to sign midfield star Alex Scott, according to BBC Sport journalist Nizaar Kinsella.

The Red Devils have made it a priority to bolster their midfield this summer, but have missed out on top targets Elliot Anderson and Matheus Fernandes to Man City and Tottenham Hotspur respectively, having refused to meet their asking prices.

United are now looking at alternatives in the market and have identified the Englishman as a potential option heading into the new season.

Scott, who has been described as ‘unbelievable’, is entering the final two years of his contract at the Vitality Stadium, and is someone the Cherries are desperate to keep hold of after losing Antoine Semenyo and Andoni Iraola since the turn of the year.

The central midfielder is understood to be open to leaving this summer for a new challenge, but Bournemouth do not want to lose another key player and are keen to offer him a new contract to tie his long-term future to the club. They’ve also slapped an £80m asking price on his head to deter any interested parties, using the fees of Fernandes and Anderson as a measuring stick.

It’s reported by the BBC that Man Utd have in fact made ‘direct contact’ with Bournemouth about a deal for the 22-year-old, but the response they received at the time was that he is not for sale under any circumstances in this transfer window.

While talks over a new deal haven’t progressed, the club are planning to keep him for at least another season, leaving Man Utd forced to look at even more alternative options, having missed out on yet another midfield target during their summer rebuild attempt.

Scott is believed to be open to a move to Old Trafford, with Champions League football expected to be a key pulling point.

Scott and Mainoo Pairing is Lightweight

via Reuters

While Scott is undoubtedly a top, top midfield talent, a midfield pairing of him and Kobbie Mainoo would certainly have it’s flaws. Both players like to carry the ball from deeper positions and are more attack-minded, although they are both capable of doing the dirty work too.

But in a league that is so big on physicality, it may be a bit lightweight as a starting pairing, and Man Utd must look to address that issue with any other midfield signings they make, or risk struggling throughout the campaign.

Ederson is set to arrive from Atalanta which could help, while there is also interest in Carlos Baleba and Aurelien Tchouameni, but it seems that Scott is the man at the top of their wishlist currently.

Rayan Cherki has claimed he was floored by the many fouls Paraguay were allowed to get away with by referee Ilgiz Tantashev during France‘s Round of 32 victory.

Kylian Mbappé‘s seventh strike of the tournament, a figure that puts him on a par with Lionel Messi, was enough to see off an adrenaline-fuelled Paraguay side that stirred controversy with their aggressive tactics.

That anger was further intensified due to Tantashev’s failure to book a single Paraguayan player, despite their combative display drawing criticism from fans and pundits.

Cherki Stunned by Lack of Cards

Kyle Ross (IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters)

The Manchester City star, who came on in the second half for Ousmane Dembele, expressed his surprise at the officiating after the game. “I didn’t know Paraguay could do 30 fouls without getting a yellow card.”

What made it particularly frustrating for the French players was that whilst no Paraguay players saw a card, three of their own (Bradley Barcola, Manu Kone and Michael Olise) were awarded cautions.

Tantashev is an experienced referee at the top-level, having been a FIFA-listed ref for over a decade. However, it is almost impossible to explain how midfielder Matías Galarza was allowed to get away without a booking despite the many interactions he had with the French team.

Fans Demand “Investigation”

Referee Ilgiz Tantashev with Kylian Mbappe via REUTERS/Dylan Martinez

Social media was lit up with scathing comments that included questioning the officiating throughout and that the referee should be investigated for how one-sided the card count was.

The consensus was that the referee had lost control of the game; it was poor game management at the highest level, which is strange given the strict process that FIFA uses when collating their World Cup officiating teams.

One supporter called it “one of the worst referee performances” they’d seen at any level, whilst another stated it was a “shocking performance from the ref.”

Former City player Joe Hart slammed the performance on the BBC’s coverage, claiming it was an “absolute disgrace” and he wouldn’t want his side to win in that manner.

It remains to be seen if he will face any action from FIFA ahead of the quarter-finals, and it will be interesting to see if he will be awarded any games in the final few rounds after this display.

France now face Morocco in the quarter-finals after the African side knocked out home nation Canada with a convincing three-goal victory, with the two sides meeting again following Les Bleus’ semi-final win at Qatar in 2022.

Manchester United are eyeing a number of players to come into their quad this summer and improve it, but they’re not restricting themselves to just midfielders.

Michael Carrick has made the centre of the pitch a priority to bolster following the departure of Casemiro at the end of his contract, while Manuel Ugarte has suffered a serious knee injury at the World Cup and is set for an extended period of time on the sidelines.

But while the club’s search for new midfielders has hit a wall, the club are also looking at bolstering their attack with a left-winger, and they have now been handed a major advantage in the race for one star.

Crysencio Summerville Wants to Join Man Utd

It was reported this week by GIVEMESPORT senior correspondent Ben Jacobs that Man Utd chiefs have opened club-to-club talks with West Ham over a deal to sign Crysencio Summerville.

The Netherlands international, who shone at the World Cup and has been described as ‘unstoppable’, is expected to leave the London Stadium following their relegation to the Championship, and United believe he could be an ideal addition to the side to round out the attack.

Fulham have been strongly linked with a move to hijack United’s bid, but it has now emerged that the 24-year-old is only keen on a move to Old Trafford.

According to X account The Touchline, which has more than 1.6m followers, the former Leeds star has told his representatives about his decision.

Summerville feels that United is a place where he can compete for the Champions League and Premier League trophies, having notched twice at the World Cup this summer and finished last season with seven goals for the Hammers.

Summerville Would Be Perfect Winger Signing

Man Utd have got some quality options in attack already, after spending over £200m to bring in Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo, and Benjamin Sesko last summer.

However, with more games to come this season after reaching the Champions League, the squad needs to be strengthened, and Summerville’s arrival would offer a new profile of direct winger, while also giving great quality depth and competition.

It’s understood that the ex-Leeds star has a release clause in his contract which would make him available at market value at around £40m, rather than the initial £50-70m that had been touted.

It could be a no-brainer of a signing to get over the line, and it’s now clear that the forward wants it to happen too.