Arsenal and Chelsea Battle for Midfielder Alex Scott
Arsenal and Chelsea are locked on to the same midfielder. Only one of them may get close.
Mikel Arteta’s side have drawn up an ambitious late-window wish list built around Bruno Guimaraes, Vinicius Jr and Julian Alvarez. It is the kind of trio that screams statement summer, but the most complicated piece of that puzzle sits in Newcastle’s midfield.
Bruno, 28, is Arsenal’s preferred choice to upgrade the centre of the pitch. Personal terms are understood to be in place and the Gunners have been edging towards an official offer after their early feelers – informal proposals of £55 million and £65 million – were dismissed out of hand by Newcastle. A formal £70 million bid is being prepared.
Newcastle are expected to reject that too. They have no intention of losing the Brazilian at a moment when they are trying to consolidate their own push towards the top of the Premier League and Europe. Arsenal know it. So they have drawn up a Plan B.
Arsenal’s fallback: Alex Scott
If Bruno proves impossible to prise away from St James’ Park, Arsenal have already “decided”, according to CaughtOffside, who they will move for next: Bournemouth’s Alex Scott.
Scott, 22, has quickly become one of the most coveted young midfielders in the country. Bournemouth see him as central to their future and have been working to tie him down to a new, improved contract on the south coast. He has so far declined to sign.
That hesitation has alerted the elite. Arsenal view him as the alternative if Newcastle slam the door on Guimaraes. But they are not alone.
Chelsea raise the temperature
Chelsea have already made their move. A first offer of £64 million has been turned down by Bournemouth, who are publicly adamant they will not sell in the middle of their first ever European campaign.
Sky Germany’s Florian Plettenberg reports that Chelsea are now weighing up a second bid. The London club “remain very interested” and are considering going back in after their opening proposal was rejected. Bournemouth’s stance is firm, but Chelsea are ready to test how firm.
Internally, the Cherries are understood to value Scott at around £80 million. That is the sort of figure that would force a conversation, no matter how bullish the public messaging. Anything close to that and Bournemouth’s refusal starts to look less like a position and more like a negotiation.
Scott’s admirers are not limited to the current bidders. Pep Guardiola has previously described him as an “unbelievable player”, while Thomas Tuchel is also known to rate him highly. When coaches at that level speak like that, recruitment departments listen.
Bournemouth’s resolve vs player ambition
Bournemouth’s line is clear: they do not want to sell. They are heading into Europe for the first time and see Scott as a cornerstone of that adventure, not a saleable asset.
Yet one factor could slowly erode that resolve. Scott is said to be keen on the move to Stamford Bridge.
The Evening Standard recently reported that the midfielder wants to join Chelsea after the £64 million bid went in and was knocked back. Their understanding is that while Scott is open to the switch, Bournemouth continue to insist he is not for sale and are still trying to secure him on a new deal.
That tension – club ambition versus player ambition – is where this story now lives. Bournemouth can hold their ground, but if Chelsea edge closer to that £80 million valuation, and if Arsenal step in should Bruno Guimaraes stay put, the pressure around Scott will only intensify.
One way or another, a young midfielder at Bournemouth is about to find out just how hard his club are prepared to fight to keep him, and how far two of England’s biggest sides are prepared to go to get him.
