Bournemouth are now willing to sell Chelsea target Alex Scott in January if an offer of around £100m arrives. The Cherries have reportedly softened their stance on the 23-year-old England midfielder after a final round of talks with his representatives.
Chelsea and Liverpool are understood to have kept their admiration for Scott ahead of the winter window. Manchester City, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur were also interested in the summer but moved on after signing other midfielders.
Any deal will also depend on Bournemouth being in a safe position in the Premier League table. The Cherries reserve the right to change their stance if they need Scott to help avoid relegation. Marco Rose’s side have yet to win a league game this season and have just three points from six games.
The Blues’ interest is far from new, as they watched a £64m bid for Scott get rejected in the summer. The midfielder has been pushing to leave and has rejected two offers to extend his contract, which runs until 2028.
Chelsea’s need for reinforcements in the centre of the park increased after Enzo Fernandez joined Manchester City for around £125m on deadline day. Xabi Alonso’s side also missed out on Monaco’s Lamine Camara at the last minute, which left them with few options.
Liverpool could provide stiff competition as manager Andoni Iraola knows Scott well from their time together at the Vitality Stadium. The midfielder is sidelined with a thigh injury he suffered in England’s 7-0 Nations League win over Croatia, but is expected back before January.
Xabi Alonso: “When You Have a Balance and a Strong Midfield”
Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso has praised his side’s midfield balance after his side’s 5-1 win against Bournemouth on Saturday, October 10. Jordan Henderson stole the show on his home debut, scoring two goals and providing an assist for Morgan Rogers. The 36-year-old, who joined on a free transfer from Brentford this summer, partnered Moises Caicedo in the centre of the park.
Speaking after the game, the Spanish manager said:
“He’s been using the international break to practice his free-kicks. We have seen Moises Caicedo in alongside Hendo. Normally when you have a balance and a strong midfield the team is in better shape.”
The victory ended a three-game winless run in the league, with Joao Pedro also scoring twice for the Blues. After an upcoming game against Everton at Hill Dickinson, the team will next welcome Tottenham Hotspur to Stamford Bridge.