United have already spent a combined £85million rebuilding their midfield this window, bringing in Andrey Santos from Chelsea and Youri Tielemans from Aston Villa following Casemiro's departure as a free agent and a long-term knee injury sustained by Manuel Ugarte at the World Cup.
Whether the club stretches to a third addition will ultimately depend on the remaining budget and how business unfolds in other positions, but Adams has been on United's radar for some time and remains firmly under consideration.
New director of data Mike Sansoni has made statistical analysis an increasingly central part of United's recruitment process, and Adams' underlying numbers compare favourably with other Premier League defensive midfielders, reports the Daily Mail.
The 27-year-old American ranked in the top four of 85 players across five separate running categories last season, while also posting strong figures for tackles, interceptions and aerial duels won - a notable achievement given he stands just 5ft 9in.
Adams was heavily linked with a move to Old Trafford in January before a knee injury, sustained just minutes into Bournemouth's 4-4 draw there in mid-December, disrupted his season. He has since returned to fitness and impressed for the United States at the World Cup this summer.
Manchester United also continue to monitor Adams' Bournemouth team-mate Alex Scott, though the Cherries have so far refused to entertain offers for the England midfielder, in contrast to their more open stance on Adams. Both players have two years left on their contracts, and with Scott so far declining to sign an extension, Bournemouth face the prospect of both entering the final year of their deals in less than a year's time - a factor that could yet persuade the club to do business with one or both this summer if the right offer arrives.
For now, though, it is the cheaper and statistically eye-catching Adams who looks the more realistic target for United among the options on their list.