Chelsea are planning to reignite their pursuit of Bournemouth midfielder Alex Scott in the January transfer window, according to reports from Football Insider and CaughtOffside. The West London club, managed by Xabi Alonso, are targeting the 23-year-old as a key addition to their midfield following the late deadline-day departure of Enzo Fernández to Manchester City. Chelsea previously had a bid of around £64m rejected by Bournemouth during the summer window, but are prepared to return with a fresh offer.
Contract standoff alerts Premier League rivals
According to Sky Sports, Scott has turned down a new contract offer from Bournemouth, where he currently earns an estimated gross salary of £40,000 per week. While his current deal runs until June 30, 2028, his refusal to extend has alerted several rival clubs. Alongside Chelsea, Arsenal, Liverpool, and Manchester United have also shown interest in the midfielder, who moved to the Vitality Stadium from Bristol City for £25m in 2023. Speaking to Football Insider, former scout Mick Brown revealed that Chelsea are disappointed to have missed out on Scott in August and expects scouts to keep "a very close eye on him every week" until January.
Stumbling blocks and financial resolve
Acquiring Scott mid-season will present significant obstacles for Chelsea's BlueCo ownership. Bournemouth have established a reputation as tough negotiators, with journalist David Ornstein noting during the summer that the club were "adamant from the start of the window that their key players would stay." Boosted by significant income from other summer departures, Bournemouth are under no immediate financial pressure to sell. However, the vacancy in Alonso's midfield remains an urgent priority for Chelsea, who may have to pay a premium similar to other recent high-profile Premier League midfield transfers to finally secure their target.
