Manchester United have walked away from moves for midfielders Alex Scott and Carlos Baleba after their clubs slapped valuations of £80m to £100m on each player. The Premier League side had expressed interest in both but quickly cooled when the numbers came in. Now the club is hunting for midfield options priced under £40m.
The price tags that changed the plan
United's recruitment team had been tracking Scott, 20, and Baleba, 20, for months. Both are young, athletic midfielders who fit the profile the club wants. But the asking prices — £80m for Scott, £100m for Baleba — were deemed too steep. The club's decision-makers decided that kind of outlay for players without top-flight experience wasn't justifiable. They pulled the plug.
New targets under £40m
With the big-money options off the table, United have pivoted. The new mandate is clear: find a midfielder who can contribute now but won't break the bank. The £40m ceiling is a hard line. That means looking at players from leagues where valuations are lower — or those with contracts running down. The club's scouting network has been told to focus on that bracket. No names have been confirmed, but the shift in strategy is unmistakable.
What this means for the squad
United's midfield has been a problem area. Casemiro is 31, Christian Eriksen is 31, and Scott McTominay has been linked with a move away. The club needs fresh legs. But the failed pursuit of Scott and Baleba shows that even with the Glazer family's deep pockets, there are limits. The new approach is pragmatic: get a solid player at a fair price rather than gamble on a huge fee for potential. It's a bet on value over hype.
The question now is who fits the bill. Several names have been floated, but nothing is concrete. United's summer window is still open, and the club is expected to move quickly once they identify the right target. For now, the message is clear: no more £80m punts.
