Manchester United are accelerating their midfield rebuild plans ahead of the summer transfer window, with the signing of Atalanta midfielder Ederson all but secured.

However, the Reds are not done with the reshaping of their midfield, with GIVEMESPORT senior football correspondent Ben Jacobs reporting that Alex Scott and Mateus Fernandes are now the club’s leading targets as Michael Carrick prepares for his first full season in charge at Old Trafford.

The Red Devils are prioritising younger, high-upside profiles capable of developing into long-term starters, with both midfielders firmly on the radar.

Michael Carrick Targets Alex Scott For Old Trafford Transfer

Bournemouth midfielder Scott is one of the most highly-rated young midfielders in the Premier League and is valued by the Cherries at around £80million, with the club determined to resist offers despite growing external interest.

Bournemouth remain adamant they do not want to lose key players this summer according to Talksport, with owner Bill Foley reportedly keen to build around his emerging core after securing European qualification.

Scott, who arrived from Bristol City in 2023 for around £25million, has quickly developed into a central figure in Bournemouth’s midfield, combining ball progression, creativity and tactical discipline to become a breakout Premier League star. However, the south coast club’s stance remains firm. Unless a significant offer arrives, he is not for sale. Manchester United’s interest is concrete, but they are not alone in tracking developments.

Alongside Scott, West Ham midfielder Mateus Fernandes has also emerged as a major target, with reports suggesting United are preparing to make an official bid after identifying him as a priority alternative in midfield.

Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano has confirmed that discussions are already underway regarding Fernandes’ situation, with United actively engaging in talks behind the scenes. Speaking on his YouTube channel, Romano said:

United’s pursuit of Fernandes comes after they stepped away from a move for Elliot Anderson, with Nottingham Forest’s £130million valuation deemed excessive by the club.

Fernandes has endured contrasting fortunes at club level, experiencing back-to-back relegations with Southampton and West Ham, but his individual performances have continued to stand out due to his technical quality.

He also made his senior debut for Portugal in April, replacing United midfielder Bruno Fernandes, a symbolic moment ahead of a potential move to Old Trafford.

While Scott offers Premier League-proven versatility, Fernandes is viewed as a more progressive, deep-lying midfielder capable of controlling games from central areas.

Man Utd Still Targeting Midfield Transfer Additions

United’s evolving strategy under INEOS prioritizes long-term value and developmental ceiling over established marquee signings, a shift that has also seen Ligue 1 midfielder Mamadou Sangare linked with a potential £35million move, according to a report from Footmercato.

That’s the valuation attached to the 23-year-old after a standout season in Ligue 1. However, it’s suggested the eventual fee could prove to be even steeper.

For now, Scott and Fernandes sit at the top of United’s midfield shortlist, and with Bournemouth holding firm and West Ham open to the right offer, the race for reinforcements is only just beginning.

It has been over a decade since United’s last Premier League triumph under the legendary Sir Alex Ferguson. If his former midfield general Carrick is to return the Red Devils to glory, he must get this first summer window right.

Mo Salah’s teammate has made a sensational claim that he could make a shock Premier League transfer decision this summer, meaning the Egyptian King would stay in English football for another season. The Liverpool winger announced he would be leaving at the end of the 2025/26 season back in March.

At the time, the initial reaction to his farewell was that it was an acceptance he was no longer at the level needed, and that it was simply the right time to call it a day. He scored 193 goals and registered 94 assists in 328 Premier League appearances, so replacing that kind of output was always going to be a tall order, but his heartfelt farewell video made compelte sense.

Since then, however, several sources and insiders have suggested the decision may have stemmed more from frustration with Arne Slot’s management. Dejan Lovren has even claimed the Dutchman drove him out of the club, while Salah’s public outbursts have only added fuel to the fire and given weight to that narrative.

Salah’s Egypt Teammate Makes Sensational Claim About his Future

But now that Slot has been given his P45, and Andoni Iraola has been appointed as his immediate successor, Egypt goalkeeper Ahmed El Shenawy has claimed Salah could still stay at Anfield. He terminated his contract 12 months early, but the winger’s personal friend told national broadcaster ON Sport:

At present, Salah is being heavily linked with moves to Italy, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey, with the 33-year-old staying put in the Premier League almost entirely off the cards.

Salah’s Agent Appears To Address Rumours

Ken Blaze via Reuters

Indeed, the biggest reason not to trust what El Shenawy is saying is the fact Salah’s agent has now broken his silence to address the rumours. He took to social media to write (see his full post below):

That could undoubtedly be a way to block out the outside noise while Salah tries to help Egypt make a success in the 2026 World Cup, but rumour has it he is also “in talks” with Fenerbahce, and so Ramy Abbas Issa could well be addressing either rumour.

Football fans are rather used to seeing Switzerland at major tournaments these days.

After a string of poor qualifying performances throughout the early and mid 1900s, the Swiss have been a mainstay at both the World Cup and Euros, only missing out a small handful of times since the turn of the century.

There’s more to it than just qualification. They’ve regularly made it out of the group stages of most tournaments, and pushed some of the best teams in the world all the way. Many will remember the 2010 World Cup, where they beat eventual champions Spain in the group stages.

That isn’t to say that they didn’t have some memorable moments earlier on. In 1934, ’38 and ’54, they managed to reach the quarter-finals of the World Cup, the latter two being under legendary manager, Karl Rappan.

This inevitably means that some fine players have turned up over the years, so here are the 15 best players to represent Switzerland.

15

Tranquillo Barnetta

Siphiwe Sibeko via Reuters

Career Span: 2002-2019

Not every great international is remembered for spectacular moments. In Tranquillo Barnetta’s case, his value came from the fact that coaches could always trust him. Whether deployed on the left wing or more centrally, he brought balance in the way that he played, and rarely let Switzerland down in 75 appearances. Across more than a decade in the national team, Barnetta featured at multiple World Cups and European Championships, helping the country establish itself as a regular presence on the international stage. His lengthy spell at Bayer Leverkusen further underlined his quality, with the Swiss international proving himself in one of Europe’s strongest leagues year after year.

14

Hakan Yakin

Career Span: 1994-2013

Jason Cairnduff via Reuters

There was always a sense that something might happen when Hakan Yakin had the ball. While Switzerland have produced plenty of hard-working and dependable players over the years, few possessed Yakin’s ability to unlock a defence or decide a match with a moment of genius. Yakin played 87 times for Switzerland after turning down the opportunity to represent Turkey for personal reasons, and he’d go on to represent them at two World Cups and two Euros.

After impressing at club level in Switzerland, Paris Saint Germain seemingly signed him for £1 million in 2003, but his contract was ripped apart when issues with his groin surfaced that ended up costing him almost two years of his career.

13

Gokhan Inler

Career Span: 2002-2024

Alex Morton via Reuters

The midfielder was Switzerland’s driving force in the centre of the pitch for almost a decade, earning 89 caps. He was a composed, natural leader who had a rare talent for scoring long-range strikes with both feet. As captain, he led Switzerland to the quarter-finals of the 2014 World Cup, while his club career saw him become one of Serie A’s most respected midfielders with Udinese and Napoli.

Despite it being a rather depressing stint, Inler owns a Premier League winners medal with Leicester City. After a £5 million move from Napoli in 2015, he would only play 10 competitive matches for the Foxes. His time in the Midlands ultimately led to him being dropped from the national side, and he’d never represent his country again.

12

Kubilay Turkyilmaz

Career Span: 1986-2002

John Siblet via Reuters

Born to Turkish parents, “Kubi” spent 13 years as Switzerland’s attacking talisman, netting 34 times in 62 appearances, a record that stood until Alexander Frei finally surpassed it in 2008. He led the line in Switzerland’s return to the international stage in the 1990s, featuring at both the 1994 World Cup and Euro ’96. At club level, he won the Turkish league with Galatasaray and scored against Manchester United in the Champions League and won Swiss Footballer of the Year three times.

11

Jacques Fatton

Career Span: 1943-1963

Jacques Fatton was a left-winger with a natural eye for goal. He scored 28 times in 53 appearances for Switzerland and was the country’s most dangerous attacker throughout the late 1940s and into the 1950s. He featured in both the 1950 and 1954 World Cups and was a serial top scorer in the Swiss league with Servette, netting 32 goals in a single season at his peak. Four Swiss league titles and a stint at Lyon added to a career that made him one of the most free-scoring forwards his country has ever produced.

10

Stephan Lichtsteiner

Career Span: 2006-2019

Switzerland’s former captain had notable spells at the likes of Juventus and Arsenal. Lichtsteiner was one of the most consistent right-backs around during his prime, and spent 13 years representing his national team.

Making his debut in 2006, Lichsteiner went on to compete in five major tournaments before his retirement in 2019. With 108 caps to his name, the former defender is one of just seven players to have reached a century of appearances for Switzerland. He did so in 2018 ahead of that summer’s World Cup.

9

Ricardo Rodriguez

Career Span: 2011-Present

One of the few players to have surpassed Lichtsteiner when it comes to caps, Ricardo Rodriguez has had an almighty international career. Making his debut at 19, the left-back has been ever present since the moment he integrated himself into the national set-up.

In terms of his club career, the defender has had prominent spells at the likes of Wolfsburg, A.C. Milan, Torino and now Real Betis. Throughout his career, Rodriquez has built a reputation for set-pieces, with him regularly being assigned free kicks, penalties and corners for both club and country.

8

Alain Geiger

Career Span: 1980-1996

Alain Geiger defied the typical centre-back stereotype with his 5’11” frame, proving height and physicality weren’t essential for international success. Over a 20-year career, he earned 112 caps for Switzerland. The defender captained Switzerland in the 1994 World Cup and Euro 96, ending his international career with a draw against England, the team he made his debut against.

Geiger’s club career was mostly in Switzerland, where he won two league titles and three cups with Sion and Servette. His crowning achievement was leading Neuchatel Xamax to their only two Swiss League titles.

7

Heinz Hermann

Career Span: 1978-1991

Heinz Hermann achieved an impressive array of honours during his career and given the fact that he never managed to play in a single major tournament for his country, his record of 118 caps is all the more incredible.

Recognized for his exceptional quality, he was considered the best Swiss player from the mid to late 80s. Hermann’s excellence was further acknowledged as he won Switzerland’s Footballer of the Year award five consecutive times from 1984 to 1988. Since his retirement, the 66-year-old has held other roles in football, such as the academy manager at Basel and director of football at FC Luzern.

6

Stephane Chapuisat

Career Span: 1989-2004

A key player for Switzerland throughout the 1990s, Stephane Chapuisat earned over 100 caps, participating in two European Championships and the 1994 World Cup.

Chapuisat spent much of his club career with Bundesliga giants Borussia Dortmund, contributing to a golden era by winning back-to-back league titles and the Champions League in 1996-97. He netted over 297 times in all competitions during a career that lasted over 15 years.