Bournemouth manager Marco Rose has confirmed that the club are “100 percent” confident Alex Scott will remain at the Vitality Stadium beyond the transfer window, and potentially into the next one.
That will come as a blow to Chelsea, who have already seen two bids for the midfielder rejected, with Bournemouth making it clear that Scott is not for sale at any price. Of course, everyone has a price, but the longer Chelsea continue to push, the greater the risk of the hierarchy being forced into paying well above market value.
The central midfielder, who joined Bournemouth from Bristol City in 2023, has emerged as a potential replacement for Enzo Fernandez, who was left out of Chelsea’s matchday squad last night as speculation over a move to Manchester City continues to intensify.
If Fernandez does leave, Chelsea will have the funds to make a major move for Scott. However, putting all their eggs in one basket could leave the Blues short if Bournemouth refuse to budge. Chelsea are already light in that position, and losing Fernandez without securing a quality replacement would create a significant problem for Xabi Alonso.
Rose, meanwhile, appears defiant in his opposition to losing one of Bournemouth’s most important players, making this a potentially difficult negotiation for Chelsea.
"I'm not just confident, I'm sure! Not just quite sure, I'm sure. We know this business. He played a top season but even Alex knows what he learned from this club, what he got from this club, and we show we know what we get from him."
Whether Chelsea end up having their pants pulled down over the price or miss out on Scott altogether, Bournemouth are well within their rights to reject Chelsea’s advances for a player they clearly view as a future Premier League star.
How good is he?
The soon-to-be England international is an excellent ball carrier who can contribute at both ends of the pitch, offering the defensive discipline and attacking creativity Chelsea would need from a midfield replacement. Comparing him to Andrés Iniesta or Cesc Fàbregas may sound like lofty praise, particularly with an English passport thrown into the equation, but his performances for Bournemouth suggest there is genuine substance behind the hype.
Having watched him consistently, his technical quality, composure and ability to dictate play are difficult to ignore, and perhaps most excitingly, his ceiling could be even higher. Good players slow the game down and he does that excellently, finding himself in positions where he influences.
If he was to wear blue come September, then a bid of £90million plus would be needed for the star off the ranks on the south coast.
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