**Liverpool’s hopes of signing Bournemouth midfielder Alex Scott this summer have been assessed by former Reds striker Stan Collymore.**
It is clear that Andoni Iraola needs to add to his midfield options before next season gets underway, even if the likes of Alexis Mac Allister and Curtis Jones remain at the club.
Scott has emerged as a [much-linked target](https://x.com/JamesWathland/status/2062232932157190284?s=20) for Liverpool, along with fellow Englishman Adam Wharton, with Iraola working successfully with the fromer at Bournemouth.
Speaking to [_TEAMtalk_](https://www.teamtalk.com/news/aston-villa-rival-liverpool-80m-rated-midfielder-iraola-love-to-sign-exclusive), Collymore raised doubts about the Reds signing him, though, despite his style of play suiting them down to the ground:
_“He’s definitely a Liverpool-type player, and they’d be a more attractive option than the other teams in the league. Whether he’d be on Liverpool’s radar, I’m not convinced. They’ve got lots of forwards and attacking-minded midfielders already._
_“But as an Aston Villa fan, if they can cobble the pennies together, I’d be more than happy to drive down to Bournemouth and pick him up on behalf of Unai Emery!”_
**Can Liverpool do better than Alex Scott?**
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Scott is a fantastic young player, catching the eye so much with his performances for Bournemouth last season, including scoring the winning goal away to champions Arsenal.
The 22-year-old is a box-to-box midfielder who combines a great blend of running and quality, and the fact that Iraola knows him so well can only be a good thing for Liverpool.
But the £80m-rated Scott is yet to prove himself at the highest level, so there would be a risk in signing him, especially for such a hefty sum of money.
Admittedly, the same can be said of other targets such as Crystal Palace ace Wharton and Monaco’s Lamine Camara, but Liverpool must be certain that Scott is at the level required if they do move for him.
There is often an English premium on homegrown players, and they can be overhyped because of it, and signing the Bournemouth ace wouldn’t feel like a guaranteed success.
That said, if Iraola wants Scott at Anfield, and sporting director Richard Hughes agrees, they need to be trusted, and there is a lot to admire about him.