Man Utd four-man midfield shortlist revealed after losing out on Mateus Fernandes

Manchester United have drawn up a four-man midfield shortlist after watching Tottenham Hotspur secure an agreement for Mateus Fernandes.

The Portuguese midfield general emerged as a prime target to join Michael Carrick's project, with super agent Jorge Mendes spearheading Man United's potential move for him.

But the Red Devils were unwilling to pay the Hammers whopping £85million asking price, and Spurs have since broken their transfer record to land the 21-year-old.

Fernandes was unveiled as a Tottenham player on Thursday, officially ending United's pursuit, and allowing them to focus their attention on other targets.

Man United have already agreed a £35m deal for Atalanta and Brazil midfielder Ederson, and according to the Daily Mail, the 20-time Premier League champions have drawn up a shortlist of four players after losing out on Fernandes.

Bournemouth's Alex Scott heads that list and is strongly admired by the hierarchy at Old Trafford, and he is joined by teammate Tyler Adams, Real Madrid's Aurelien Tchouameni, and Borussia Dortmund star Felix Nmecha.

The report claims that the Cherries could demand even more than their original £60m asking price for Scott after seeing the level of fees agreed for Elliot Anderson and Fernandes.

In Tchouameni's case, there are no guarantees he will leave Real Madrid following Jose Mourinho's arrival, while a transfer fee and wages could prove to a major stumbling block.

Adams and Nmecha, two names lower down the pecking order, are also firmly in the mix, but it remains to be seen what the Red Devils are willing to pay to bolster their midfield ranks.

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Felix Nmecha wants Premier League move

Carrick is keen to get most of his business done early, and one player he could be drawn towards is Dortmund's Nmecha.

It was revealed earlier this week that Chelsea and Manchester United were leading the race for Nmecha, who has been valued at a staggering €100m.

That being said, Dortmund would be willing to lower their asking price if there is serious interest in his signature, and his World Cup performances could drive attention to his talents.

Although Germany were knocked out by Paraguay on penalties, Nmecha was a shining light for Julian Nagelsmann, ranking in the top five per cent for duels won and tackles at the tournament, according to FotMob.

United are crying out for his ball-winning attributes in the middle of the park following Casemiro's departure, and encouragingly for them, he is keen on a move back to the Premier League.

Nmecha, who began his youth career at Manchester City at the age of seven before leaving in 2021 to join Wolfsburg, could return to make up Carrick's new-look midfield.

The 12-cap German international has impressed at Dortmund since joining in 2023, recording 21 goal involvements in 112 appearances, and is under contract at Signal Iduna Park until June 2030.