Chelsea are reportedly preparing a new approach to sign AFC Bournemouth midfielder Alex Scott after seeing multiple bids, including a £64 million proposal and a late deadline-day inquiry, rejected by the South Coast club. The 23-year-old has emerged as Chelsea's primary midfield target following Enzo Fernandez's British transfer record £125 million departure to Manchester City, setting up a high-stakes pursuit in the upcoming transfer windows.
Chelsea seek successor to Fernandez
According to reports from the BBC and The Mirror, Chelsea first tested Bournemouth's resolve with a £64 million bid earlier in the summer transfer window. Following Fernandez's late move to Manchester City, Chelsea made a second, last-gasp deadline day attempt to secure the former Bristol City midfielder, which was also rebuffed. Scott, who signed for Bournemouth in 2023 for £25 million, has reportedly rejected a new contract extension at the Vitality Stadium. Having entered the final two years of his current deal, which runs until 2028, his contract situation has also alerted Premier League rivals including Arsenal, Liverpool, and Manchester United.
Bournemouth resist Stamford Bridge pressure
Despite Chelsea's financial power under the BlueCo ownership model, Bournemouth remain in a strong negotiating position. Speaking on the Back of the Nest podcast, journalist David Ornstein explained that the Cherries were "adamant from the start of the window that their key players would stay" and that there was "no chance" of Scott leaving. Bournemouth's financial stability has been significantly bolstered by the lucrative departures of Dean Huijsen, Milos Kerkez, Illia Zabarnyi, and Dango Ouattara. Having secured Europa League qualification under manager Marco Rose, the club is under no pressure to cash in on the midfielder, although Chelsea are expected to test their resolve again.
