'Talks have been held' - Man Utd considering move for cheaper midfield option as long-term investment

Casemiro's revival in a swansong season at Manchester United held together a midfield that has been crying out for stability and quality.

With Kobbie Mainoo coming out the other side of a painstaking era under Ruben Amorim, he now stands on his own as Manchester United's future holding-midfield choice, while Manuel Ugarte's time at the club also seems short-lived.

It's the one area where Manchester United are desperately trying to bolster in the upcoming season, hoping to nail down at least two deeper-lying central midfielders to free up the space for the ever-present Bruno Fernandes in the ten role.

With a number of players on the shortlist, ranging from European heavyweights to rising stars, one player is now emerging as an ideal 'cheaper' option, and talks have opened between United and a Premier League club.

Manchester United set to go cherry-picking

While names like Aurelien Tchouameni and Carlos Beleba resurfaced again in this window, Manchester United's attention has been caught by some younger homegrown talent.

Namely, Bournemouth's Alex Scott has become a frontrunner for United, as the budget would allow for his signature and another.

Getty Images

The 22-year-old has been one of the best progressive ball carriers in the Premier League this season, and stands an outside chance of getting a seat on the plane to the World Cup.

Playing crucial parts in the goals in both the Arsenal and Manchester City draws, Bournemouth's prospect has whetted the appetite of United, knowing that he can be effective against the biggest clubs in the world.

According to The Athletic, the Red Devils have made contact with the south coast team to understand the full costs of signing Scott, whose contract runs out in 2028.

Scott's profile is much akin to that of Mainoo, being more of a ball player than a ball winner, but with United expanding their games next year, having qualified for the Champions League, having two players in each position is a necessity.

Should Michael Carrick's attempts to sway Scott be unsuccessful, he could turn his attention towards West Ham's Mateus Fernandes and Nottingham Forest's Eliot Anderson, although they will face stiff competition from the noisy neighbour for the latter's signature.

As for a direct replacement for Casemiro as the breaker of play, Atlanta's Éderson is a popular choice for around £60m, as is the unsettled Sandro Tonali.

With aspirations of bolstering squad depth, alongside adding Champions League-standard quality to the middle of the pitch, you can expect Manchester United's summer activity to start as soon as the window opens in June.