Alex Scott remains Chelsea’s top midfield target after their £60m bid was rejected.
Chelsea FC
Chelsea FC
Full name: Chelsea Football Club Nickname: The Blues Founded: 10 March 1905 Ground: Stamford Bridge Owner: BlueCo Chairman: Todd Boehly Manager: Xabi Alonso League: Premier League Season 2025-26: 10th position Website: chelseafc.com Chelsea Football Club is one of the most… Read More about CHELSEA
Chelsea have not given up on Alex Scott, and the latest transfer news claims they could return with a new offer despite Bournemouth turning down a £60 million bid this summer.
Chelsea’s chase for Alex Scott intensifies
Chelsea have made Scott their top midfield target under new boss Xabi Alonso. As reported by TEAMTALK, Bournemouth’s valuation of Scott has since risen close to £90million. The Cherries made it clear from the start that their young star was not for sale. They also blocked a late approach on deadline day, standing firm even as Chelsea looked elsewhere.
That search grew urgent once Chelsea lost Enzo Fernandez to Manchester City in a British-record deal. A separate move for Monaco’s Lamine Camara also fell apart late in the window. This left Alonso short of real options in central midfield. Scott’s passing and calm under pressure fit exactly what Alonso wants from that role. Few young midfielders in English football carry themselves with Scott’s composure on the ball.
Alex Scott joined Bournemouth from Bristol City for a £25million fee back in 2023. He stays calm on the ball under pressure and moves it forward fast. He can already control games from deep, a rare skill among young midfielders in the league.
Alex Scott’s stats in the 2025-26 season at Bournemouth, as per FOTMOB:
Competition Matches Goals Assists Chances created Defensive contributions Duels Won%
Premier League 37 3 1 27 387 55.6%
FA Cup 1 0 1 2 1 25%
EFL Cup 1 0 0 3 5 61.5%
Euro U21 5 1 1 4 18 52.6%
Bournemouth’s contract stand-off with Scott
Scott’s current deal runs until 2028, yet he has turned down several new deals already. Bournemouth even offered new terms with a release clause built into the contract. They hoped this would finally convince him to commit his future. As reported by CAUGHTOFFSIDE, new deal has been on the table for at least two months. So far, though, Scott is yet to sign it.
This delay gives Chelsea a good reason to stay patient. Arsenal, Manchester United, Tottenham, and Manchester City have all shown interest in Scott too. That kind of interest shows why Bournemouth do not want to sell him cheap. Bournemouth have no plans to sell him during the January transfer window. Still, an unsigned deal naturally raises some doubt for both clubs. Chelsea seem ready to wait for a deal that secures Scott without rushing a second bid. That makes sense for a club that has been burned twice this window already.
What happens next for both clubs
Bournemouth face a bigger challenge in holding their position again once next summer arrives. If Scott still refuses new terms, he will enter the final year of his deal. That kind of situation often shifts negotiating power toward the buying club. Manchester City faced a similar dilemma with Rodri this summer. Rather than risk running his contract down, they chose to sell. Barcelona paid £65.4million for Rodri even with a year still left on his deal. So contract length alone will not decide what Chelsea end up paying for Scott.
This would still give Bournemouth time to plan properly for his eventual exit. They could accept a deal now and protect the fee at its peak. Or they could wait it out and risk a smaller fee later. Liverpool have also been linked with Scott in recent reports. Any club that finishes near the top of the Premier League table next season will have added leverage in talks like these.