Manchester United updates two major transfer targets! Will inquire about Scott, continue negotiations with West Ham over Summerville

The loss of Matheus Fernandes to Tottenham was unexpected for Manchester United's transfer team. Yet, as reported by the Daily Mail, Jason Wilcox and his recruitment unit are continuing their dialogue with West Ham, now turning their attention to probing the availability of Dutch winger Crysencio Summerville.

This winger, who had a respectable World Cup performance, is on Manchester United's shortlist. However, it is currently understood that a new winger will only arrive if Rashford leaves. The future of Rashford remains uncertain, with expectations that he will return to the team after the World Cup. Nevertheless, Wilcox is clearly hoping that the 28-year-old English star will depart, which is why he is keen to learn more about Summerville.

Transfer expert Ben Jacobs stated: "Manchester United have initiated talks with West Ham regarding Summerville—direct contact between the clubs. Sources within Manchester United indicate these discussions are still in the early, exploratory stage. However, the Dutch winger is highly rated in terms of his abilities. From United's perspective, any potential move would likely be contingent on Rashford being sold first."

Of course, whether Summerville will wait until that point remains uncertain, as several other clubs are also interested in him. For now, United's top priority remains signing a new midfielder. It is widely believed that their next target is Bournemouth's 22-year-old Alex Scott.

The Daily Mail reports that Manchester United will certainly inquire about Scott with Bournemouth. Tottenham has officially announced the signing of M. Fernandes, while Manchester City has also confirmed the completion of the Elliott Anderson deal. These two transfers, worth £85 million and £116 million respectively, have significantly impacted the pricing trends for midfielders this summer.

Scott has consistently been on Manchester United's shortlist, though initially not at the top. However, as other targets have become unattainable, his priority has risen to the forefront. Scott has extensive Premier League experience, having performed consistently at Bournemouth, and he also possesses the advantage of being an English "homegrown" player.

Bournemouth is reluctant to sell and has already turned down inquiries from Arsenal. The "Cherries" hope to extend Scott's contract, which currently has two years remaining. The club has offered improved terms, including the option of a £75 million release clause that would take effect after next year.

Manchester United's urgent need for midfield reinforcements means they may not afford to wait any longer, but that will likely require paying a premium. United's ideal valuation is around £60 million, while Bournemouth could demand as much as £80 million.

A club president from a team that participated in last season's Champions League described to The Athletic the ripple effects that high-value transfers have on inflation across football. "After the Anderson deal, imagine what happens when Nottingham Forest tries to sign a player from a Bundesliga club? The Bundesliga club knows they received £116 million, so they naturally demand a higher fee. And when the Bundesliga club sells a player, they then try to buy from a Swiss club, who will also demand a higher price!"

According to Italian transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, Real Madrid's Aurélien Tchouaméni is Manchester United's dream target. The club has been monitoring him closely because they have heard that the 26-year-old French international might not be entirely out of reach this summer.

However, "not entirely out of reach" does not mean Tchouaméni will leave. For now, Real Madrid's hierarchy insists he will not depart, and new coach José Mourinho also wants to keep him. Only if Madrid signs Enzo Fernández at a high price and fails to sell other midfielders like Eduardo Camavinga might they consider offloading Tchouaméni. Even then, a club would need to offer an astronomical fee and top-tier wages to tempt him.

Regarding a potential Tchouaméni transfer, Manchester United holds no leverage; they can only act if Madrid decides to sell. United cannot persuade Tchouaméni to request a move, as the Frenchman is content in Madrid and has no desire to leave.

This contradicts the principles of Manchester United owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe. Jacobs revealed: "United will only engage in fierce transfer competition if they believe there is a strong chance of signing the player. Additionally, before making a decision, the club wants clear signals that the player has expressed genuine interest in making Old Trafford his desired destination."

Borussia Dortmund's German midfielder Felix Nmecha has attracted interest from several clubs, including Manchester United. Dortmund's valuation for the 25-year-old Nmecha is around €120 million (£100 million).

That was before Germany's World Cup elimination, where Nmecha disappeared in back-to-back losses to Ecuador and Paraguay, tarnishing his reputation. However, when asked if Nmecha's transfer fee would drop, sources at Dortmund pointed directly to the Anderson transfer case.

A former Premier League club sporting director told The Athletic: "You can set any price tag for a player, but that doesn't mean he's actually worth that much. Every negotiation has its unique conditions. You have to consider not only other players but also factors like how urgent my need is to sign someone. Do I absolutely have to sign this particular player, or can I find alternatives? Are there other buyers? If so, how strong is their influence? And another question: Do I need to sign this player right now?"

Unfortunately for Manchester United, all these conditions seem unfavorable. Carrick urgently needs one or even two new defensive midfielders, especially after Ugarte's serious injury left him with almost no options. United's targets have been picked off one by one by other top clubs, with financially powerful teams like Arsenal and Liverpool also searching for midfield reinforcements.

The Athletic's Mark Critchley summed it up: "All the players we've mentioned seem to have transfer fees between £60 million and £80 million, regardless of their experience, reputation, age, talent, or ability—this is the current market rate. If this trend continues, and United cannot find less well-known players capable of filling these roles, they will have to pay these high prices to address their midfield issues."

Last summer, Manchester United was eager to sign Carlos Baleba, but interest has since waned. The 22-year-old Cameroonian midfielder's performance last season plummeted, and while United still have some interest, there are no signs of action this summer. Brighton demanded £100 million for him before last season, and while his value may have dropped, the "Seagulls" have not significantly lowered their asking price, likely demanding £70-80 million.

On the lower end of the transfer market, United has also considered Fulham's Sander Berge and USMNT captain Tyler Adams, who plays alongside Scott at Bournemouth. Meanwhile, Hayden Hackney, a former Middlesbrough player under Carrick, has already secured a move to Everton for £16.5 million, plus £8 million in add-ons.