PALM BEACH GARDENS, FLORIDA - JUNE 02: Alex Scott runs with the ball whilst under pressure from Rio Ngumoha of England during a training session at Palm Beach Gardens on June 02, 2026 in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Leonardo Fernandez - The FA/The FA via Getty Images)
Alex Scott runs with the ball while under pressure from Rio Ngumoha during an England training session at Palm Beach Gardens on June 02, 2026 in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida(Image: Leonardo Fernandez - The FA/The FA via Getty Images)
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It's not taken long for the first Bournemouth player to be tipped to follow Andoni Iraola to Liverpool. But, on closer inspection, this link predates the arrival of the Spaniard.
Iraola was named as the new Liverpool head coach on Thursday. He replaces the sacked Arne Slot and his appointment is reward for his superb work with Bournemouth over the past three seasons.
The Cherries have long been shrewd operators in the transfer market but it's what the 43-year-old did with the players at his disposal, and the style of which he got the team playing in, that will have attracted the Reds.
And one of the players who came on the most under Iraola was midfielder Alex Scott.
Signed by Liverpool's sporting director Richard Hughes when he held the same position at Bournemouth, the 22-year-old has grown into one of the Premier League's top young talents following his £25m move from Bristol City in the summer of 2023.
So much so that Scott, along with Reds rising star Rio Ngumoha, was called up by England boss Thomas Tuchel for his pre-World Cup training camp currently taking place in America.
That has brought the Guernsey-born midfielder to wider attention with talkSPORT's chief football correspondent, Alex Crook, saying on the station this week that the "noise" is growing about Scott moving to Anfield.
He said: "Yeah, that noise seems to be growing, and you can understand why because I think it was a problem last season for Liverpool, that midfield.
“(Ryan) Gravenberch and (Alexis) Mac Allister certainly weren’t on the same level, and Alex Scott is a player that Iraola knows well. I know Bournemouth are keen to tie him down to a new contract, but (it’s) certainly one to watch.”
Crook later wrote: "Bournemouth value sought-after midfielder Alex Scott at around £80m, and remain determined to keep him this summer.
"Scott is emerging as a target for Liverpool and fellow Premier League heavyweights Manchester United after a stellar season on the Dorset coast.
"However, Bournemouth sources have doubled down on their stance that ambitious owner Bill Foley does not want to cash in on the Channel Islander.
"The Cherries remain hopeful Scott will sign a new contract, potentially with an Antoine Semenyo-style release clause."
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 08: (THE SUN OUT, THE SUN ON SUNDAY OUT) Antoine Semenyo of Manchester City challenges Milos Kerkez of Liverpool during the Premier League match between Liverpool and Manchester City at Anfield on February 08, 2026 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
Antoine Semenyo of Manchester City challenges Milos Kerkez of Liverpool during the Premier League match at Anfield on February 08, 2026(Image: Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
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That new contract line was also relayed by Fabrizio Romano, who posted: "New contract proposal from Bournemouth to Alex Scott includes the possibility to include a release clause. Club did the same with (Dean) Huijsen, Rayan and more - ready to replicate model with Scott if player accepts."
While we're at that time of year when speculation and gossip is rife, the Reds have long had Scott on their radar.
The ECHO reported back in April 2023 that Liverpool were one of a number of Premier League clubs keeping their eye on the then teenager.
We wrote: "Liverpool are expected to sign at least two midfielders this summer as Jurgen Klopp looks to revamp his squad after a disappointing campaign. However, that will not include Jude Bellingham, with the Reds having ended their pursuit of the Borussia Dortmund man.
"With such an important transfer window on the horizon, Liverpool are at present unlikely to keep anything more than a watching brief on Scott, who is untried at the top level but whose potential is such that Bristol City boss Nigel Pearson earlier this year declared the player could command a fee up to £25m."
The Reds went on to sign four midfielders that summer - Alexis Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai, Ryan Gravenberch and Wataru Endo - while Pearson's declaration proved correct as Scott joined Bournemouth for £25m.
But with question marks over the futures of Mac Allister and Endo, as well as Curtis Jones, midfield reinforcements could well be on Hughes' and Iraola's agenda, and there are not many players they will know better than Scott, who last week made his feelings for his former boss clear.
Alex Scott worked with Andoni Iraola at Bournemouth
Alex Scott worked with Andoni Iraola at Bournemouth(Image: Charlotte Wilson/Offside via Getty Images)
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Speaking while on England duty, Scott said: "He is obviously a great manager, you see what we have done as a club at Bournemouth and how we have progressed over the three seasons he was with us.
“I think the way we press out of possession is very aggressive, maybe similar to the early Klopp teams Liverpool had, that fierce aggressiveness and pressing with the wingers.
“I would say he is similar to that. Liverpool fans should definitely be so excited, he has done a lot for me personally.
“I have improved loads this season, out of possession and in possession. I feel like I have had his trust.
“Defensively, maybe in my first two seasons, I wasn’t at the level to be playing in the Premier League and that is something I had to learn on and learn from the players ahead of me in the team.
“But he put his trust in me from the first game of the season and I started and played 34 full games this year, so that is something to be really proud of. Injury free as well, which I was happy with.
“The manager has been amazing for me, working with me going forward, defensively, being more aggressive, and that is the reason I played most games this season.”
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