Manchester United have reportedly missed out on three of their primary midfield transfer targets, with INEOS working urgently to finalise a significant addition for head coach Michael Carrick.

An agreement for Ederson has already been concluded, with Casemiro said to have personally recommended his fellow Brazilian. However, Ederson does not fit the mould of a traditional defensive midfielder.

This situation led United’s co-owners to focus on securing either Elliot Anderson or Sandro Tonali, but both pursuits failed due to high asking prices that exceeded the club’s budget.

United’s transfer momentum was further hampered when they were unable to complete the signing of Mateus Fernandes, after Tottenham Hotspur successfully hijacked the deal.

Consequently, the 20-time English league champions turned their attention to Bournemouth’s Alex Scott as a potential solution in midfield.

Reports had suggested that Bournemouth were open to selling the English midfielder, although their valuation increased following record-breaking transfers involving Anderson and Tonali.

Manchester United were among the clubs to establish contact with the south coast side, but the BBC has since delivered a disappointing update for the Red Devils.

According to the report, “Bournemouth have been approached directly by several major clubs, believed to include Arsenal, Manchester United, and Manchester City.”

“The club has made it clear that Scott is not for sale under any circumstances this summer. As noted earlier in April, Bournemouth had offered Scott a new contract — their second proposal following an initial offer in March.”

“The intention is for Scott to remain at the club, even if he does not sign a new deal. His current contract runs until 2028.”

Given that the 22-year-old’s existing deal extends to 2028, Bournemouth are eager to secure his long-term commitment and were previously open to including a release clause in any new agreement.

Now, however, that option seems to have been withdrawn, forcing Manchester United to consider alternative midfield targets if they wish to find Casemiro’s successor during the current transfer window.

Tyler Adams, who plays alongside Alex Scott at the Vitality Stadium, is also being monitored by United. Additionally, players such as Ayyoub Bouaddi, Aurelien Tchouameni, and Eduardo Camavinga from outside the Premier League continue to be linked with possible moves to Old Trafford.