Manchester United have been handed a major clue about what it could take to land one of their top midfield targets in the January transfer window.
According to BBC Sport, Bournemouth are open to selling midfielder Alex Scott for a bid of around £100 million in January.
However, the Cherries are expected to stand firm regardless of the bid if they find themselves embroiled in a relegation battle.
The Red Devils were determined to strengthen their midfield over the summer, bringing in Carlos Baleba, Andrey Santos and Youri Tielemans to bolster their options.
However, INEOS could still be forced back into the transfer market for another midfielder over the next 12 months.
Man Utd must avoid an expensive transfer mistake
Scott is undoubtedly a talented midfielder, but spending £100 million on a player who is yet to reach his full potential would be a significant gamble.
The Bournemouth star is an impressive ball-carrier who can drive his team forward, but his distribution is an area in which he still has room to improve.
United have Baleba, who possesses a similar profile to the Englishman, while the Cameroon international arguably has an even higher ceiling.
Rather than getting drawn into an expensive bidding war for the 23-year-old, the Red Devils should explore alternative targets who could offer better value for money.
Chelsea are leading the race to sign him after the summer departure of Enzo Fernandez.
If Bournemouth are comfortably clear of danger by January, Scott could be tempted by a move to Stamford Bridge, where he may see a clearer route to regular first-team football.
Stats from Fotmob.com
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