Image for Rival club: Liverpool may have suffered huge blow in bid to sign “complete package” in midfield
Image for Rival club: Liverpool may have suffered huge blow in bid to sign “complete package” in midfield
Bournemouth midfielder Alex Scott has been linked with a move to Liverpool and a reunion with Andoni Iraola, but the situation may now have changed.
The 23-year-old has enjoyed an impresive international break with England, shining at the heart of the midfield and being praised by manager Thomas Tuchel for his efforts:
“First start and what a start, what a performance. He is so smooth on the ball, his decision making is at the highest level. He plays with so much confidence. He is so active, so confident. The work rate off the ball. He is just the complete package. He gave us a lot of mobility and a lot of variety and work rate in the centre of the pitch.”
Scott has been backed to join Liverpool plenty of times, especially since Iraola replaced Arne Slot, because the pair worked together at Bournemouth.
But according to TEAMtalk, Real Madrid have now emerged as contenders to sign the Englishman, in what represents a possible big blow for the Reds. They still hold “signifciant interest” themselves, though.
The Spanish giants are “considering becoming involved in the race” to snap up Scott, and they had scouts in attendance for England’s 7-0 win away to Croatia in the UEFA Nations League on Saturday.
In fact, he was “one of the main reasons” for Madrid having representatives present, with the report adding that they have seen him “at least three times, including Bournemouth’s Europa League victory over Real Sociedad in Spain last month.”
Is Alex Scott Liverpool’s perfect midfield target?
Scott is such an impressive player, and the manner in which he has taken to interntional football further suggests that he could become an elite midfielder over time.
As Tuchel alludes to, he is a complete footballer in many ways, combining technical quality on the ball with an excellent work ethic and an impressive football brain.
Scott can play deep or in more of a box-to-box role, so Iraola would be given much-needed extra depth in the middle of the park, and journalist Henry Winter once mentioned Pep Guaridola’s admiration for him, saying:
“Pep Guardiola has always been an admirer of Alex Scott. Described the midfielder as ‘an unbelievable player’ after the then 19-year-old’s performance in Bristol City’s FA Cup loss to Guardiola’s Manchester City three years ago. Even more of an admirer now. Outstanding in Bournemouth’s win over Arsenal, passing and scoring.”
There is so much to love about Liverpool signing Scott, whether it be his talent, age or past relationship with Iraola, but there are also potential drawbacks.
He will cost a huge amount of money, at a time when the Reds must be careful about overspending on players, and he also isn’t the natural No.6 that they crave.
Monaco’s Lamine Camara should, therefore, still be considered the best possible option for Liverpool, ideally in the January transfer window, with Crystal Palace ace Adam Wharton also a strong choice.
But if Scott does end up in a Reds shirt, it would be no bad thing, with the Bournemouth still a young player with an enormous amount of long-term promise.