Chelsea are leading the race to sign Bournemouth midfielder Alex Scott ahead of Liverpool and Arsenal, according to the Telegraph.
Receiving plaudits from Pep Guardiola at a young age is one thing, but living up to them is another. Three years after the Catalan manager described Scott as an ‘unbelievable player’, it is safe to say that the youngster has lived up to those expectations and continues to do so.
From first winning the 2022-23 EFL Championship Young Player of the Season while with Bristol City to being part of the England U19 and U21 sides that won the Euros, it has been nothing short of a meteoric rise for the youngster.
Since he arrived at the Vitality Stadium in the summer of 2023, the 23-year-old has been one of the best midfielders in England and notably played an instrumental role in the Cherries’ European qualification this season.
He has been one of the most coveted midfielders, particularly in the recently concluded summer transfer window, with Football Talk citing CaughtOffside reporting that Chelsea were preparing to submit an improved offer to sign Scott, although a deal did not materialise.
It appears Chelsea remain keen on signing the English midfielder, as the Telegraph claims that the London giants are leading the race to sign the midfielder.
Exciting midfielder
Confirming initial claims of Chelsea’s interest in Scott, the report adds that the Blues saw several bids in excess of £60m rebuffed by Bournemouth in the summer.
Although the Cherries are adamant on keeping the England international at the Vitality Stadium, the Blues remain poised to sign him even if it means waiting till the next summer transfer window, according to the report.
However, Chelsea are set to face stern competition from Liverpool, whose manager Andoni Iraola plans to reunite with him, while Arsenal have also shown interest, the Telegraph adds.
Chelsea’s attacking displays have been among the more encouraging aspects of their season, yet the same cannot be said about other positions, particularly midfield.
The arrivals of Jordan Henderson from Brentford and Valentin Barco from Strasbourg were intended to add further options in the middle of the pitch, but the duo have played little part in the Premier League, where the Blues have largely struggled.
As a result, bringing in a Premier League-proven midfielder like Scott, who will likely cost well over his £59m Transfermarkt valuation, would be the ideal choice to provide quality and balance to transform Xabi Alonso’s midfield.
