Bigger talent than Mainoo: Man Utd ready bid for £60m star after Ederson deal

Things are looking up for Manchester United, who have clarity and confidence and direction under Michael Carrick‘s wing.

You get the sense that INEOS were hesitant to appoint the 44-year-old, even after his incredible efforts over the past several months. A similar narrative emerged when Ole Gunnar Solskjær was given the keys after his blistering interim stint, the Norwegian, also a former Red Devil as a player, ending up with the boot.

But things are different now. There is unity and quality at Old Trafford, with Carrick’s side set for a third-place Premier League finish after falling so heavily by the wayside under Ruben Amorim’s management.

However, it’s crucial that they strengthen effectively, and with Casemiro leaving, it feels like midfield reinforcements are going to be the order of the day for the Red Devils.

Man United moving for new midfielders

Manchester United are closing in on a move for Atalanta’s Ederson, starting the summer transfer window off on the front foot.

The Brazilian would effectively replace his outgoing compatriot at the Theatre of Dreams, an excellent dueller and confident distributor with a press resistance that the older man can’t bring to the table with the same success.

However, United need more, another profile to complement Ederson. Kobbie Mainoo’s recent inclusion in Thomas Tuchel’s Three Lions squad for the World Cup was a marker of his resurgence, but United are lining up a ball-playing midfielder to add a dimension.

For sure, Alex Scott will be disappointed to have been excluded. But according to TEAMtalk, this hasn’t deterred Man United in their hopes of signing the Bournemouth midfielder this summer, preparing a bid after internal discussions.

Scott is contracted to the Vitality Stadium until 2028, and there is talk of the Cherries hoping to tie him down to a fresh deal. However, he would consider leaving for a Champions League club, putting United in a strong position.

Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool are also keen on the £60m-rated England international.

Why Scott would eclipse Mainoo at Man Utd

Scott is only 22-years-old, but he’s already established himself as one of the most exciting midfield talents in the country, with former Bristol City boss Nigel Pearson remarking that he’s “destined for the top” back in 2023.

Scott is the real deal, athletic and efficient as a ball carrier while also boasting a natural technicality on the ball that allows him to pick out teammates, often breaking lines as they curl around the edge of the defence.

He would be something of a rival to Mainoo at Old Trafford, but it could help both realise their potential. Nonetheless, though, Scott is probably outperforming Mainoo at the moment, even though the United man got the nod ahead of the World Cup.

A more active and combative dueller who also covers plenty of ground when fighting to win the ball back, Scott brings balance and focus to his midfield, and in that, he has been a fundamental part of Andoni Iraola’s high-flying system, charging the intensity.

This is the kind of skillset that Man United fans have been treated to over the past several years in Mainoo, but Scott is a cut above, and he’s still improving.

Were the roles reversed, and it was Scott who plied his trade for one of England’s elite, it feels likely that he would be on the plane this summer.

Alas, Mainoo is proven on the international stage, and he has been instrumental for Carrick’s resurgent outfit. However, Man United have put themselves in a promising position, and by signing Scott, they would inch even closer to a return to title-winning heights.