Arsenal, Liverpool and Chelsea Approach Bournemouth Over Alex Scott
Arsenal, Liverpool and Chelsea have made exploratory contact with Bournemouth over England midfielder Alex Scott. The club wants more than £100m in January, while Scott has 18 months left on his contract and has turned down two new deals.
Arsenal, Liverpool and Chelsea have all made contact with Bournemouth about England midfielder Alex Scott ahead of the January transfer window, and the Premier League club is holding out for a fee above £100m.
The approaches are understood to be exploratory. The three clubs want to learn what it would take to persuade Bournemouth to sell a 23-year-old who has indicated he will not sign a new contract.
Who wants him now
Liverpool and Chelsea are said to be keenest to move in January. Arsenal would prefer to wait until the summer, although a bidding war could force them to act sooner.
Chelsea have long been seen as favourites. Liverpool are now viewed as serious contenders, helped by a potential link to Andoni Iraola, the former Bournemouth head coach.
Tottenham and Manchester City also showed interest in the summer. Both turned to other targets once Bournemouth made clear Scott was not for sale.
Why the price is so high
Bournemouth's position is that nothing below £100m will do. Sources close to the club have dismissed the idea that an £80m bid would even start negotiations.
The figure reflects the cost of finding a replacement and the £25m the club paid to sign Scott from Bristol City. Bristol City are also entitled to 20 per cent of any fee Bournemouth receive.
Chelsea made several offers of around £70m in the summer, and Bournemouth turned them all down. Other midfielders moved for fees of around £100m in that same window, so a cut-price deal looks unlikely.
Contract and wages
Scott rejected two contract offers over the summer and has 18 months left on his deal. His value is likely to fall significantly by next summer, which is why a big January offer would be considered.
He is understood to earn around £50,000 a week, and a move could potentially triple that. His ambition to play at the highest level is said to be strong.
He is also understood to be happy to stay on the south coast for the rest of the season. A source said it was far from a "done deal" that he would leave in January, because Bournemouth showed in the summer they would not be pressured into selling leading players.
Bournemouth's form
Bournemouth have reason to feel secure. They are on a run of eight successive victories in all competitions and harbour realistic hopes of qualifying for the Champions League.
Defender James Hill has been rewarded with an England call-up. Head coach Marco Rose has overseen a revival since a heavy defeat by Chelsea that insiders described as a "turning point moment".
Insiders say Scott has not let the speculation affect him. Bournemouth are expected to resist any move until a bid reaches their valuation.
