Chelsea have moved to the front of the queue to sign Bournemouth midfielder Alex Scott, reigniting a pursuit which failed during the summer. If the Cherries weaken and allow him to leave in January, the Blues will be first in the queue.
Chelsea have long admired the 23-year-old, with Bournemouth rejecting a £64m bid from the West London club in July. The Blues are understood to have returned with further proposals before the deadline. Still, the south-coast outfit insisted it would not consider a sale.
However, Scott’s contractual situation could ultimately tip the balance in Chelsea’s favour in the long run. The midfielder is said to have rejected several opportunities to extend his contract, which is currently set to run until 2028.
The Guernsey midfielder has kept his place in the side amid the swirling speculation, starting regularly and scoring in the Premier League this season. His displays also saw him earn a place in Thomas Tuchel’s England squad for the upcoming Nations League fixtures.
Scott joined Bournemouth from Bristol City in August 2023 and played a key role as the Cherries finished sixth last year. That campaign ended in the Cherries qualifying for the Europa League for the first time in their history.
It explains the urgency of Chelsea’s midfield predicament after Enzo Fernandez left for Manchester City in a reported £125m deadline-day deal. Xabi Alonso’s options seemed dangerously narrow after a last-gasp attempt to sign Monaco’s Lamine Camara collapsed. Even Moises Caicedo’s absence has forced Alonso to use full-backs Reece James and Malo Gusto in central areas.
Chelsea eyeing up Adam Wharton as alternative midfield target
Scott isn’t the only Premier League midfielder Chelsea are keeping an eye on ahead of the winter window. Sources have also identified Adam Wharton of Crystal Palace as a preferred target.
The Blues hierarchy have apparently decided to wait for January’s opportunities rather than chase interim alternatives, with Scott and Wharton seen as leading candidates. Wharton is said to be available for around £80 million in January. Scott could cost £100 million or more.
But there are believed to be reservations about Wharton’s suitability for Alonso’s system, which tends to use only two central midfielders. The 22-year-old, who is under contract at Selhurst Park until 2029, has generally thrived in a midfield three for both Palace and England. The decision Chelsea make in the end may hinge as much on tactical compatibility as the considerable fees involved.