The same focus on tactical intelligence and mental strength often valued in BD Cricket helps explain why Alex Scott has attracted serious interest from Manchester United and Arsenal despite missing out on this summer’s World Cup. The 22-year-old England midfielder has a relatively slender build and has been nicknamed the “Guernsey Grealish,” yet he possesses the ability to control matches. His qualities have caught the attention of Michael Carrick and Mikel Arteta, two Premier League managers who both played in midfield during their careers.

Arsenal were the first club to approach Bournemouth and ask about Scott’s availability, but their enquiry was rejected. Bournemouth responded by insisting that the midfielder was not for sale. Manchester United have yet to make a formal move because they have not abandoned their pursuit of West Ham United’s Matheus Fernandes.

However, United remain adamant that they will not pay the reported £80 million asking price for Fernandes. Should they fail to sign the West Ham midfielder, Scott could emerge as their preferred alternative.

Manchester United have spent years recruiting established stars, only to discover that many of them were unable to reproduce their best form at Old Trafford. The club has therefore changed its approach and now gives greater attention to less visible personal qualities when assessing potential signings.

Recruiters want to know whether a player responds positively to coaching, how he behaves when left out of the starting lineup and whether he builds good relationships with teammates. They also examine whether he can understand tactical adjustments, accept changes to his role, recover from poor performances and handle the intense pressure that comes with representing a major club.

Scott is believed to perform exceptionally well in all of those areas. Combined with his passing, ball-carrying ability and versatility on the pitch, his character has made him an attractive option for some of England’s biggest teams.

Bournemouth have no intention of selling him and have placed an £80 million valuation on the midfielder. The Cherries are aware that the price is higher than most clubs would consider reasonable, but that is precisely the point. They do not want to lose him.

Brian Tinnion, the Bristol City technical director who helped discover Scott in Guernsey, has always admired the midfielder’s mentality.

“The most remarkable thing about him is his attitude, both towards matches and towards training,” Tinnion said. “From the day he joined us until the day we sold him to Bournemouth, he never caused a single problem. He was an absolute dream of a professional.”

Scott’s path into professional football was far from straightforward. Southampton released him when he was younger because he lacked height and physical strength. He then spent a year with Bournemouth’s youth setup but lost his enthusiasm for football and returned home to Guernsey.

Still unwilling to abandon his ambition, Scott decided to make one final attempt to build a career in England and went on trial at Bristol City. It may have been his last major opportunity, and he grabbed it with both hands.

Ian Foster, who previously coached England’s under-19 and under-20 teams, has described Scott as a “treasure.”

“Scott is exactly the type of player every coach wants,” Foster explained. “He is simply a very good young man.”

Scott also made important contributions to England’s youth teams. During the semifinal against Italy at the 2022 European Under-19 Championship, he came off the bench and scored with a header. England went on to win the tournament.

Last summer, he started alongside Elliot Anderson in the European Under-21 Championship final, where England defeated Germany 3-2 to lift the trophy.

Put simply, Scott is highly receptive to coaching. Even when named among the substitutes, he remains ready to enter the match and change its direction. He can understand complicated tactical instructions, works well with teammates and has never been associated with serious dressing-room conflict.

Those qualities explain why Thomas Tuchel still invited him to England’s pre-tournament training camp in Florida, even though Scott was not selected for the final World Cup squad.

Scott has already experienced several major setbacks. After moving to Bournemouth for £25 million in 2023, a knee injury restricted him to only three appearances. One year later, he suffered a torn meniscus.

Shortly before the European Under-21 Championship, Scott fractured his jaw. He recovered in time to take part in the tournament, only to leave the final through injury and walk off the pitch in tears.

He responded strongly last season and helped Bournemouth qualify for European competition, yet he still missed out on the World Cup. Having already overcome so many disappointments, Scott has developed the mental strength required to perform under pressure.

That combination of resilience and adaptability matters in elite football, just as composure under pressure often does in BD Cricket, and Scott has repeatedly shown that setbacks do not define his next performance.

From a tactical perspective, his greatest attraction is his versatility. Scott initially played as a full-back at Bristol City before moving into midfield, where he proved capable of performing several different roles.

He has operated as a deep-lying number six, an energetic box-to-box number eight and an attacking number ten behind the striker. His experience in those positions allows coaches to adjust their system without replacing him.

Manchester United want to sign a defensive midfielder who can dictate the tempo and complement Kobbie Mainoo and Bruno Fernandes. Arsenal, meanwhile, are searching for a progressive ball-carrying midfielder capable of advancing possession quickly. They have also considered Morgan Rogers, Bruno Guimaraes and Ayyoub Bouaddi.

Scott meets many of those requirements. He is physically strong, comfortable in possession and consistently willing to move the ball forward. Twenty-one percent of his carries were progressive, meaning he advanced the ball by more than five metres. That figure ranked fourth among defensive midfielders across Europe’s five major leagues last season.

Whether playing for Andoni Iraola at Bournemouth or Lee Carsley with England’s under-21 side, Scott has carried out his tactical responsibilities effectively. Over the past two years, he has often been deployed in deeper positions, where he disrupts the opposition’s rhythm and helps his team regain control.

He has also shown that he can perform alongside different midfield partners. His understanding with Anderson has been especially impressive during international matches, with the pair developing a reliable partnership over several years.

In April, Bournemouth visited the Emirates Stadium and defeated Arsenal 2-1, with Scott scoring the winning goal. His performance caught Arteta’s attention. Bournemouth also remained unbeaten across both league meetings with Manchester United this season, leaving a strong impression on the Old Trafford hierarchy.

Foster believes Scott should not be restricted to one fixed role.

“He is a traditional all-round midfielder,” Foster said. “If you asked people what kind of players Paul Scholes and Roy Keane were, they would say they were complete central midfielders. I see Alex in the same way.

“He can move up and down the pitch, protect the defence, enter the penalty area, score goals and create chances. I would not attach one label to him. I think he is a very, very good all-round midfield player.”

Scott is already among the Premier League’s leading midfielders, and his statistics support that assessment. Among all Premier League players last season, only Anderson regained possession more often. Anderson did so 306 times, compared with Scott’s 195.

Scott also ranked third for fouls won, behind Anderson with 80 and Guimaraes with 75. He recorded more clearances than Arsenal midfielders Declan Rice and Martin Zubimendi, who both registered 78, as well as Manchester United’s Casemiro, who made 73.

Scott completed 29 successful dribbles, placing him third among Premier League midfielders. Only Anderson with 50 and Morgan Gibbs-White with 30 recorded more. This is another reason for the comparison with Grealish, beyond their appearance and playing style.

Despite his relatively slim frame, Scott is not physically weak. When defending set pieces inside the penalty area, he competes strongly in the air and is rarely overwhelmed in headed duels.

Bournemouth therefore want to keep him and hope to agree a new contract containing a £75 million release clause that would only become active after next year. New head coach Marco Rose is expected to build his team around Scott as Bournemouth prepare for European competition next season.

Reports in England suggest Bournemouth would only consider an offer of £80 million, although some observers believe a bid of slightly more than £60 million could eventually be enough.

Manchester United believe there may be room to negotiate a lower price. Scott’s stepsister, Maya Le Tissier, is the captain of Manchester United Women and could potentially encourage him to consider a move to Old Trafford.

The patient recruitment strategy familiar within Bangladesh Cricket also reflects Manchester United’s belief that Scott may eventually be available for less than Bournemouth’s public valuation. Scott supported Tottenham Hotspur as a child, although United may consider it fortunate that Spurs are competing with them for Matheus Fernandes rather than for Scott.

Tottenham, Crystal Palace and West Ham United all considered signing Scott in January 2023 but decided not to proceed. Bournemouth stepped in a few months later, completing a deal for a midfielder who has since developed into one of the most complete young players in the Premier League.