Manchester United eye prodigious young English talent Alex Scott, battling Premier League rivals Chelsea to secure his signature and secure future midfield dominance.
Bruno Fernandes has been one of the most important players in Manchester United's recent history, and it looks likely he will continue to be going into the future. He is also looking to stamp himself into Premier League history by breaking the assist record.
United's captain is currently three assists away from besting Thierry Henry's and Kevin De Bruyne's record of 20 in a season. It would be an achievement that perfectly sums up Fernandes' time in Manchester, dragging his team to a victory on numerous occasions through a moment of magic.
However, the Portuguese international is now 31 and is not getting any younger. Although Fernandes seems to be getting better and better year on year it is important that United have plans for a replacement in the near future.
Mohamed Salah is a prime example; his sudden fall off in the current campaign has been to such a level as unforeseen by fans and pundits alike. This has disrupted Liverpool's campaign, leading to a lacklustre season after being many fans' favourites to win the league.
Luckily, it seems the higher-ups at Manchester United are already planning for this, as they find themselves in a transfer battle for an English Premier League star, who has established themselves as a key player in their squad at the age of 22.
United challenging Chelsea for £50m Scott transfer
After beating them 1-0 at Stamford Bridge on Saturday, it seems United are in another battle against Chelsea. This time both clubs are aiming to capture the signature of Bournemouth star Alex Scott, after an impressive season for the Cherries.
At only 22 years of age, the English midfielder has already established himself as one oh his sides most dependable performers. He has made 33 appearances in the league for Andoni Iraola's side, adopting a playmaker role, setting up and scoring goals.
Chelsea's interest in Scott suits their long-term transfer strategy to build a young squad with a strong English core throughout the midfield. Whilst Manchester United are looking for options to revitalise the centre of the park, with Casemiro's departure, Scott seems like the perfect player to build around going forward.
According to CaughtOffside, an offer in the region of £50 million could be enough to start negotiations with Bournemouth, with the deal likely to rise upwards of £60 million should more clubs become interested.
Could Scott become Bruno's replacement?
Considering Fernandes is seemingly still in the prime of his career, there would be no better time to bring in a player like Alex Scott over the summer.
The young midfielder would be able to learn from one of the world's best, preparing him for a key role in the side upon Fernandes' departure.
Scott's statistics don't tell the full story of his breakthrough season, he has managed four goals and one assist, but his ability to progress attacks has a value much higher than just his goal contributions.
He has an ability to carry the ball from box-to-box, whether that is from deep or higher up the field. Linking up play is one of the key aspects of his game and will only improve as he gets older.
If United were to sign Scott, he could become one of the best midfielders in the league over the coming seasons, especially with guidance from one of the best attacking midfielders in the world currently, as well as becoming a fan favourite amongst the Red Devils.