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Pep Guardiola has already made his thoughts clear on Manchester United target Alex Scott by paying him the ultimate compliment. The Manchester City manager once described the central midfielder as “an unbelievable player.”

That was after the then-19-year-old played for Bristol City against his side back in early 2023 in an FA Cup game. If that glowing endorsement from one of the greatest managers ever wasn’t enough, Jack Grealish also labelled the teenager a “top, top talent” at the time.

Scott, now 22, has gone from strength to strength since then, becoming a key player at Bournemouth under Andoni Iraola. His impressive displays since his £25million move to the south coast have unsurprisingly seen him linked with several top Premier League sides.

City have been amongst them, as have neighbours United. Speaking about Guardiola’s comments in 2024, the England U21s star revealed how his mother was left particularly delighted by the praise.

“To hear that from who I regard as one of the best managers of all time, it’s a good feeling. It was amazing,” said Scott. “It was a great feeling and my mum enjoyed it probably even more than me!

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“He didn’t have to say that but to say it about an opposition player shows the respect he has and why he’s gone so far in the game. Guardiola was incredible at Barcelona with that great team with Lionel Messi.

"I grew up with Guardiola as a manager and that whole team was just incredible. Xavi and Andres Iniesta. Messi doing his magic, he had brilliant midfielders at Bayern Munich with Thiago and now he’s at Man City with Rodri who, for me, is one of the best players in the Premier League.”

Yet, he could end up playing for Guardiola’s cross-city rivals, United, who have made signing a midfielder their priority for 2026. The Old Trafford club appear to be biding their time, however, withrecently sacked manager Ruben Amorim suggesting there will be no new arrivals of note in January prior to his dismissal.

Having appointed Michael Carrick as interim boss until the end of the season, United are expected to instead splash out in the summer on more than one midfield signing. Adam Wharton, Elliot Anderson, Joao Gomes and Carlos Baleba are all being linked with a move to Old Trafford.

Scott must be doing something right if he is being considered amongst such company by United chiefs, having received his first England senior call-up by Thomas Tuchel in November 2025. Should the Red Devils successfully fend off rival clubs and secure his signature, they may well have a future Three Lions star on their hands.

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