Bournemouth’s determination to keep Alex Scott has done little to discourage Chelsea, who remain among the leading contenders to sign the England midfielder.
The Blues had a £64m bid rejected during the summer, but their interest has continued into the new season. According to Matt Law of The Telegraph, Chelsea are at the front of the queue of clubs monitoring the 23-year-old.
Bournemouth, however, have no intention of allowing Scott to leave in January. talkSPORT reported this week that the south coast club remain determined to retain him, despite his reluctance to sign a contract extension.
Scott’s current deal runs until 2028, leaving Bournemouth with time to negotiate, although their position could become more complicated if no agreement is reached before next summer.
Injury for Scott on England duty
The midfielder’s immediate priority is recovering from a thigh injury sustained while representing England. He impressed during the 7-0 Nations League victory over Croatia but was withdrawn after 70 minutes. Subsequent examinations revealed a quadriceps problem, with BBC Sport reporting that he could miss six to eight weeks.
His absence is a setback for Bournemouth, who have relied heavily on the former Bristol City midfielder this season. It also introduces another consideration for clubs monitoring his progress ahead of the January window.
Chelsea are not alone in their admiration. Arsenal and Liverpool have also been linked with Scott, whose performances have attracted attention beyond the Premier League.
Suggestions circulating on social media that Bournemouth have already agreed to let him leave in January remain unsubstantiated. There has been no reliable confirmation of such an arrangement, and the club’s reported position is firmly against a winter sale.
For Chelsea, the more realistic opportunity may come next summer, particularly if Scott continues to resist signing a new contract.
