Manchester United's bid for Scott rejected, with the club instead offered a £40m World Cup midfield linchpin; the Red Devils haven't considered Sangaré.

According to BBC's authoritative Simon Stone, Manchester United's two main midfield targets are Alex Scott and Aurelien Tchouaméni. Unfortunately, the Red Devils are very likely to be unable to secure either player.

Bournemouth insists Scott is not for sale, declining offers of £60m or even £80m. The club hopes to extend the contract of the 22-year-old English midfielder with a release clause, only considering a transfer after next year. However, the "Cherries" have told Manchester United and other clubs coveting Scott that they are willing to sell Tyler Adams.

Adams, who captained the US team at the World Cup, is valued by Bournemouth at £40m to £50m, with a willingness to accept partial add-on clauses. Adams is the type of defensive midfielder who rarely draws attention yet remains a key team member.

Last season, Adams missed several games due to knee and hamstring injuries and underwent back surgery before the 2024/25 season, making his fitness a potential concern. Nevertheless, he was still an indispensable part of Andoni Iraola's Bournemouth squad last season.

At the World Cup, aside from the inconsequential group match lost to Turkey, he played every minute for the USA. Like Scott, Adams' contract with Bournemouth runs until 2028. However, at 27 years old, Bournemouth is considering cashing in on him.

Manchester United's efforts to sign a midfielder have encountered repeated setbacks. Real Madrid's 26-year-old midfield powerhouse Tchouaméni is the ideal target Sir Jim Ratcliffe dreams of acquiring. However, beyond his high price and wages, whether Real Madrid is willing to sell is key to Ratcliffe's dream. Stone reports that new Real Madrid coach José Mourinho will have significant influence over Tchouaméni's future at the Bernabéu, and internally, Manchester United widely believes Tchouaméni will stay.

Although focusing on signing a Premier League midfielder, Manchester United has also been linked with some continental defensive midfielders. However, the Manchester Evening News reports that the club has not yet turned its attention to the French or German leagues. United's club correspondent Tyrone Marshall said: "United are trying to sign a midfielder, and possibly two more. This summer, the names Mamadou Sangaré and Angelo Stiller haven't come up, so they are not priorities at this point."

Stone added: "The name Nmecha has also emerged in transfer rumors. The former Manchester City academy player started brightly for Germany but faded, ultimately exiting the World Cup after a shock loss to Paraguay. United's football director Jason Wilcox is very familiar with him, having previously served as Manchester City's academy director, and Nmecha came through City's youth system. However, Nmecha only extended his contract with Borussia Dortmund in March, and United sources say there are no active plans to pursue him."

Italian transfer expert Fabrizio Romano and The Athletic's David Ornstein both report that Manchester United is interested in Andrey Santos. Ornstein says Santos is eager for a regular starting role, which seems unlikely at Chelsea at present. If a move suits all parties, Chelsea will not block the deal. He also adds that the 22-year-old Santos has been on United's radar for some time, and the transfer's feasibility largely depends on Chelsea's asking price, with £50m reportedly enough to seal the deal.

Any potential deal remains in early stages, with no negotiations between clubs yet. So far, inquiries from multiple suitors have been made through Santos' agent. Santos is certainly not the marquee signing many Manchester United fans demand to rebuild the midfield; he was merely a substitute at Chelsea, which is why he's considering a move, especially after Moisés Caicedo's renewal leaves him with little hope at Stamford Bridge.