Man Utd’s list of four midfielders to watch comes out after missing out on Mateus Fernandes
Manchester United have put together a shortlist of four midfielders after watching Tottenham sign Mateus Fernandes.
Fernandes, a talented midfielder from Portugal, was a top target for Michael Carrick’s project, with super agent Jorge Mendes leading the potential move. But United weren’t willing to match West Ham’s huge £85 million price tag, and Spurs ended up breaking their own transfer record to sign the 21-year-old.
Fernandes officially joined Tottenham last Thursday, ending United’s chase and letting them focus on other players.
Man United have already agreed to spend £35 million on Atalanta and Brazil’s Ederson. According to the Daily Mail, their new four-man shortlist includes Bournemouth’s Alex Scott, who is highly rated at Old Trafford. Joining him on the list are his teammate Tyler Adams, Real Madrid’s Aurelien Tchouameni, and Borussia Dortmund’s Felix Nmecha.
Reports say Bournemouth might ask for more than their original £60 million for Scott, having seen big fees paid for players like Elliot Anderson and Fernandes.
Tchouameni’s future is uncertain after Jose Mourinho joined Real Madrid, and his transfer price and wages could be a problem for United. Adams and Nmecha are also being considered, but it’s unclear how much United are ready to spend to strengthen their midfield.
Carrick wants to get most deals done early, and Dortmund’s Nmecha could be a strong option. This week, it was revealed that both Chelsea and Manchester United are leading the race for Nmecha, who’s valued at a whopping €100 million. But Dortmund might lower their price if serious offers come in. Plus, Nmecha’s strong World Cup showing is gaining attention.
Even though Germany was knocked out by Paraguay on penalties, Nmecha stood out for coach Julian Nagelsmann, ranking in the top five percent for duels won and tackles during the tournament, according to FotMob.
United really need his tough tackling skills after Casemiro left, and the good news is Nmecha is interested in returning to the Premier League.
Nmecha started his youth career at Manchester City when he was just seven and left in 2021 for Wolfsburg. Now, he could come back to help Carrick rebuild United’s midfield. The 12-cap German has impressed at Dortmund since joining in 2023, with 21 goal contributions in 112 games, and he’s under contract until June 2030.