Manchester United Shift Focus to Scott and Fernandes

Manchester United have walked away from the escalating chase for Elliot Anderson, turning their attention firmly to two new midfield priorities: Alex Scott and Mateus Fernandes.

The decision comes after a staggering development across the city.

According to David Ornstein of The Athletic, Manchester City have seen a bid totalling £121m rejected by Nottingham Forest for Anderson. A nine-figure offer, turned down. For United, that was the moment the conversation ended.

United will not enter a bidding war at those numbers. Not for Anderson. Not this summer.

United Change Course

United had stayed in the Anderson discussion longer than many expected, monitoring the situation as Forest’s valuation climbed. But the figures now involved have pushed the deal into territory the club simply will not entertain.

Instead, Ornstein reports that United have narrowed their midfield focus to two names: Alex Scott and Mateus Fernandes.

Both are younger, both are technical, and crucially, both are understood to be keen on a move to Old Trafford. That stands in contrast to Anderson, who is believed to be seeking a huge wage package on top of his fee.

From United’s perspective, the equation is simple. One Anderson, at £121m and beyond, or potentially two high-ceiling midfielders for something close to that combined. The choice has been made.

Value Over Vanity

Scott is thought to be valued at around £60m, with a realistic deal potentially landing closer to £50m including add-ons. Fernandes, currently at West Ham, has been priced at £80m by his club, but the London side’s need to raise funds means a lower overall package is considered plausible.

Put together, the pair could cost United roughly what City are already offering for a single player who has yet to justify that kind of fee on the biggest stage.

For a club now operating under a more disciplined sporting structure, that matters. This is not just about headlines; it is about building a midfield that can function, evolve, and peak over the next several years rather than just the next news cycle.

Built for Carrick’s Midfield Vision

There is also a tactical layer to this shift.

Michael Carrick is preparing to move towards a three-man midfield, with a structure reminiscent of the control and fluidity seen at PSG. To do that, he needs legs, technique, and intelligence between the lines. He needs players who can press, carry, and create, not just one marquee name dropped into an unbalanced unit.

Scott and Fernandes fit that brief. Both are regarded as hard-working, technically secure, and still some way from their prime years. They offer profiles that can be shaped and refined, rather than finished products with limited room to grow.

They also bring another advantage: availability.

Neither player is involved in the World Cup, meaning both would be able to report for the full pre-season if deals are completed in time. That is not a small detail for a coach trying to build a new structure from the ground up.

Pre-Season Stakes

United’s midfield planning has already been complicated by international commitments. Ederson’s late call-up to the Brazil squad has altered the club’s pre-season picture, leaving Mason Mount as the only senior midfielder currently expected to be available from day one.

Drop two new signings into that environment, both present for the entire preparation period, and the dynamic changes completely. Carrick would have time to drill his ideas, build relationships, and establish roles before the competitive fixtures begin.

That is the kind of advantage that rarely makes the back page, but often decides how a season starts.

So United step away from the Anderson auction, not with a sense of defeat, but with a clear alternative in mind. If they can land Scott and Fernandes on their terms, the story of this summer window will not be the player they walked away from, but the midfield they quietly rebuilt in his place.