Chelsea are confident in their pursuit of Bournemouth midfielder Alex Scott as the January transfer window approaches. The 23-year-old Englishman has become a priority target for the team under Xabi Alonso following the departure of Enzo Fernandez to Manchester City. The club has resumed negotiations, but Bournemouth are demanding a fee exceeding £100 million.
Despite the hefty price tag, Scott possesses qualities that Chelsea desperately need: he can win the ball back, drive attacks forward, and track back across the pitch without the ball.
A midfielder capable of pushing Chelsea forward
Defensive work is one of Scott's strongest assets. According to Opta's data published on Sky Sports, last season in the Premier League, only Elliot Anderson and Andre from Wolves won the ball back more frequently among midfielders. He also ranked in the top ten for interceptions and duels won.
However, Scott is far from a conventional destroyer. Last season, he made 431 carries with the ball, the eighth highest among midfielders in the league. About half of these were progressive, meaning he regularly advanced the ball towards the opposition’s goal rather than simply passing sideways or backwards. This ability to break through the press is particularly invaluable against aggressive opponents.
His movement without the ball is equally impressive: Scott ranked sixth in the league for supporting runs and first for tracking back into defensive positions. Such statistics highlight his endurance and tactical discipline.
Why Bournemouth are demanding such a large fee
Scott joined Bournemouth from Bristol City in 2023 for approximately £25 million, and he is under contract until 2028. In the summer, the club rejected Chelsea’s offers (which included a bid of £64 million with bonuses), but they are now open to considering a sale in January if the financial demands are met.
This year, the midfielder made his debut for the England national team, but he is currently recovering from a thigh injury sustained in a match against Croatia, which could affect his readiness for the opening of the transfer window.
Chelsea will have to fork out a significant amount, but the combination of tackling skills, progressive passing, and work rate makes Scott a versatile box-to-box player capable of enhancing both phases of the game.
