Manchester United have moved into the race for Alex Scott, putting fresh pressure on Tottenham Hotspur’s long-running admiration of the Bournemouth midfielder. An update claims INEOS are keen and Ruben Amorim has approved the idea, setting up a Premier League tug-of-war for 2026.
Scott, 22, has risen fast since leaving Bristol City in August 2023. Over 50 Bournemouth appearances, three goals and four assists have pushed him into England’s senior picture with a first call-up this month. The profile is clear: a versatile midfielder who can raise the technical level and tempo without losing edge.
Tottenham monitored him before his Bournemouth move and have kept him on the board. United’s entrance complicates a chase that already had momentum in North London.
Alex Scott to Tottenham
For Spurs, the appeal is obvious. Thomas Frank wants more control and final-third craft from midfield, and Scott fits the brief. The Londoners tracked him closely at Bristol City, and their interest has survived his switch to Bournemouth. With talk that Yves Bissouma may not be part of the long-term plan, a connector who can link phases and add end product becomes a logical target.
Scott’s age and Premier League minutes tick key boxes for Tottenham’s recruitment rules. He adds depth now and upside later, without reshaping the entire system.
United’s need is different but just as sharp. Casemiro is into the twilight of his career, Kobbie Mainoo is frustrated by his situation, and Manuel Ugarte has yet to convince since arriving from Paris Saint-Germain. Amorim wants a midfielder who can operate across roles and speed up circulation. Scott’s versatility and press resistance offer a cleaner fit than a pure destroyer or a pure 10.
INEOS’ interest adds corporate backing to the football case. It also raises the risk of a bidding war Spurs would rather avoid.
INEOS interest in Alex Scott
The signal from Old Trafford is strong: Scott is approved at executive and coaching levels. That matters in a market where timing is as important as price. With multiple suitors, the first club to align manager sign-off and budget usually sets the pace. United, for now, have matched those internal pieces.
Tottenham’s counter is continuity. They have tracked the player longer and can offer a defined role. The question is whether that is enough if United accelerate.
There is no fee in play yet, and Bournemouth hold a valuable asset under contract. The most likely path is positioning through winter and a push next year. For Scott, fit and minutes will decide the move as much as badge. For Spurs and United, clarity of role and pathway could be the tiebreaker if numbers converge.
Bottom line: Scott is the right profile for both. United bring speed and scale; Tottenham bring continuity and a role tailor-made for a ball-secure, forward-minded midfielder. This one will be won by the plan, not the pitch deck.
