Despite missing out on him in the summer, Chelsea remain firmly in the race to sign Alex Scott from Bournemouth.
The 23-year-old has enjoyed a huge rise in recent seasons.
His form for the Cherries has seen him break into Thomas Tuchel's England plans with the midfielder recently impressing during the Three Lions' 7-0 victory over Croatia in the Nations League.
And although Bournemouth don't want to lose the Englishman, contract talks have stalled, opening the door once again for a south coast exit.
Music to the Blues' ears...
Chelsea favourites to sign Alex Scott
Scott is unlikely to leave Bournemouth in the January transfer window, but according to the Telegraph, the Blues are more than happy to wait until next summer.
Xabi Alonso's side saw multiple bids rejected last summer, including an offer worth £60 million, but there is renewed hope the Chelsea manager will land his man at the end of the season.
Of course, Alonso isn't alone in his admiration for the 23-year-old. The Telegraph also note that Liverpool — managed by Scott's former boss Andoni Iraola — are also in the mix as well as champions Arsenal.
Chelsea are viewed as the ongoing saga's frontrunners though, so it's going to be incredibly interesting to see how the remainder of the season plays out before Bournemouth start receiving inevitable offers for their talented number eight.
Enzo Fernandez's departure has inspired continued interest in Scott
The Blues are lacking in the midfield department following Enzo Fernandez's move to Manchester City a few months ago, so it comes as little surprise to see the club continued to be linked with one of the Premier League's most impressive central playmakers.
Despite flirting with the chance to join Real Madrid, the Argentine ended up teaming back up with Enzo Maresca at the Etihad, and that has left a big hole in the Chelsea squad.
Scott's talent and development has seen him begin to establish himself as one of the country's most exciting midfielders. The Gurnesey-born youngster can do it all.
He plays box-to-box and has genuine technical ability; arguably the biggest driving factor in the Cherries' European qualification last season.
During his three years at the Vitality Stadium, Scott, who came through Bristol City's youth academy, has scored seven goals and registered seven assists in 97 matches in all competitions.
He was part of the England under-19 and under-21 teams that lifted the European Championship in 2022 and 2025 respectively.
Add us as a preferred source on Google