Manchester United may not be able to sign Bournemouth star Alex Scott this summer.
Scott is “well-liked” by senior figures at Man United but budget concerns suggest that he is out of reach, as per The Athletic.
Bournemouth are desperate to keep hold of the 22-year-old and are prepared to offer him a new contract containing a staggering £75 million release clause.
Scott enjoyed another impressive Premier League campaign, making 37 league appearances while contributing four goal involvements.
He also helped Bournemouth qualify for the UEFA Europa League for the first time in their history.
United have already strengthened their midfield with the arrivals of Youri Tielemans and Andrey Santos, but INEOS remain determined to add one more midfielder before the window closes.
Scott could have been a perfect fit, considering the relentless intensity he brings and his ability to cover huge areas of the pitch.
It has been widely reported that the Cherries will demand around £80m to sanction his sale after seeing the inflated transfer fees paid for Elliot Anderson, Mateus Fernandes and Sandro Tonali.
Rather than getting dragged into another bidding war, INEOS have made it clear that they will remain disciplined in the transfer market.
They declined to meet the staggering asking price of £85m (in guaranteed fee) set by West Ham United for Fernandes and pulled out of the transfer race for Anderson very early due to extremely high demands of Nottingham Forest.
If Bournemouth refuse to soften their stance, United are expected to switch their attention to more realistic alternatives.
Meanwhile, Arsenal and Chelsea continue monitoring Scott closely and could be ready to capitalise on any hesitation from Old Trafford.
Stats from Transfermarkt.com