Aurelien Tchouameni vs Alex Scott – Manchester United transfer verdict after £85million blow
Man Utd are in the market for a Casemiro replacement this summer, so how do two key players on their shortlist compare?
15:59, 30 Jun 2026Updated 12:07, 01 Jul 2026
Real Madrid midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni and Bournemouth star Alex Scott
Manchester United were trying to make Mateus Fernandes their second midfield signing of the summer, but Tottenham have ruined their plans.
Spurs have met West Ham’s £85million valuation of the midfielder. This leaves United scrambling for alternatives having already missed out on Elliot Anderson, who has agreed to join Manchester City for £116million.
United would love to sign Aurelien Tchouameni from Real Madrid. The Frenchman is seen as a dream addition, but there are doubts over whether Madrid would be willing to sanction a sale this summer.
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Another option could be Bournemouth’s Alex Scott. The midfielder just enjoyed his best top-flight goalscoring season, bagging three as the Cherries qualified for the Europa League for the first time.
So, would United be better off moving for a player who has shown he can cut it in the Premier League, or would a marquee signing from one of European football’s biggest hitters be the best way forward? This is how Scott and Tchouameni compare.
Statistics
United’s data department, led by Michael Sansoni, is hugely influential on the club’s transfer strategy. Anderson and Fernandes were the standout Premier League options to replace Casemiro but neither will be arriving at Old Trafford.
As per Who Scored, Scott played roughly 239 minutes more than Tchouameni last season, with three more starts than the French international. When on the pitch though, it is the Real Madrid man who has shown more promise as a defensive midfielder.
He averages 2.1 tackles per 90 minutes compared to Scott’s 1.6. And yet, Tchouameni concedes a mere 0.9 fouls to the Bournemouth man’s 1.2. His interceptions are also better per 90, with 1.4 compared to the Englishman’s 1.
Scott leads the way with clearances with an impressive 2.2 compared to Tchouameni’s 1.7. However, this could be down to more opportunities based on the dominance Real have against opponents compared to Bournemouth.
The duo are similar when it comes to offensive play with shots per game (Scott’s 1.2 to Tchouameni’s 1.4) and key passes (0.7 to 0.8) showing little between them. But the truly telling statistics are their passing stats.
Tchouameni is making 58 passes per game compared to Scott’s 37.6, yet the Frenchman’s pass completion is up at a whopping 91.5 per cent to the Bournemouth man’s 84.9. Real’s midfielder is also attempting more long balls with 2 per game compared to 1.4 from Scott.
Alex Scott battles for possession with Arsenal’s Eberechi Eze last season
What coaches say
Carlo Ancelotti was asked about Tchouameni after Real Madrid’s clash with City in the Champions League last year. “Today, everyone delivered, including him,” the former Real manager said.
“He has returned to his position, and when he is there, he shows all his qualities. He is very strong, forceful in duels and is always very well positioned defensively. I think the duo with [Dani] Ceballos, who is a different player, is good for the team.
“Because Dani is more of a possession player and Aurelien is more physical. Someone focused on the defensive aspect. Tchouameni… What else can I say? He is a very important player, very important for us.
“Because he has the exact characteristics. He will never be Kroos, Modric or Ceballos. But Ceballos cannot be Tchouameni, just as Kroos and Modric aren’t.”
Xabi Alonso defined him as Madrid’s “foundational pillar”, while France’s national team manager, Didier Deschamps, has heaped praise on him in the past.
Tchouameni pictured against City.
As for Scott, he was consistently praised by Bournemouth’s previous head coach Andoni Iraola. “He has been playing like this consistently,” the now Liverpool manager said in March.
“I said before the game, he’s in the best form I’ve seen him ever in my three seasons here. But I understand [Thomas] Tuchel in the sense that if you consider [James] Garner, Adam Wharton, Elliot Anderson, they are incredible players.
“You have such a good national team, it’s very expensive to be in the squad. I hope he continues playing like this, and maybe he has a chance at the end of the season because he’s doing everything from his side to be considered [for the World Cup].”
Scott would ultimately miss out on the England squad, but while Garner and Wharton stayed at home, the Bournemouth man was chosen to fly out to America to help the Three Lions with their World Cup preparations. “I’m happy to have these players, especially Alex, who was on the list of 55 and obviously he didn’t make the first cut but the reaction of him was outstanding and the commitment and wish to be in pre-camp and a step closer to the team was not even a question for him,” Tuchel explained.
“That showed me his character and I’m delighted he’ll be with us because that was a close call and he gets a chance to get a step closer and a cap.”
Verdict
Having an interest in Tchouameni is a signal of intent from United. The midfielder is 26, so he’s coming into the prime of his career, and he’s a high-quality operator with plenty of experience at the top level.
He contributed to huge Champions League wins and came close to winning the World Cup with France four years ago. He is an aggressive player, someone who can win challenges and duels, and would essentially tick all the boxes to replace Casemiro.
While Scott would be seen as a more realistic target, he is not the midfielder United need right now. Tchouameni would fill the defensive midfield brief, whereas Scott is more akin to Kobbie Mainoo.
Playing Mainoo and Scott together would be a risky move and would expose United’s defence. Tchouameni is the clear winner, but whether Real are willing to sell remains to be seen.
