The Athletic: Scott transfer inevitable, Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea among potential suitors

The Athletic reports that Chelsea and Liverpool are monitoring Alex Scott in what is shaping up to be a £100 million transfer.

Earlier this month, Alex Scott made his senior England debut in a 7-0 victory over Croatia. After the match, Tuchel praised him extensively: "He's incredibly fluid on the ball, makes top-level decisions, and plays with great confidence. He's very active, with strong off-ball movement—an all-around midfielder."

These comments have further elevated expectations for the AFC Bournemouth midfielder.

Scott is a £100 million (approximately $133 million) transfer waiting to happen. This valuation reflects the current market for young English midfielders. As long as AFC Bournemouth's Premier League survival is not in jeopardy, the club will consider letting the 23-year-old go in January, potentially for the aforementioned sum.

With just over 18 months remaining on his contract and no immediate plans for an extension, several Premier League clubs are interested in him, including Chelsea, who failed in their pursuit this summer. Chelsea took advantage of Scott's absence last Saturday, securing a decisive victory over AFC Bournemouth at Stamford Bridge.

"He wins the most ground duels in the Premier League, recovering possession 36 times—only two players have more. He also ranks fifth in the league for distance covered," said Andy Bishop, a commentator for the Premier League's international broadcast, at Stamford Bridge when Chelsea were two goals ahead.

His co-commentator, former England defender Matt Upson, added: "When we talk about Alex Scott, we always think of his beautiful head-up passing and movement. But off the ball, he is crucial for AFC Bournemouth."

This aspect of Scott's game is easily overlooked, partly because of his physique: he is 178 cm tall, lean, and wears his socks rolled down to his ankles. Another reason is his exceptional technical ability, which always captures attention first.

Backheels, nutmegs, step-overs, and sole rolls are commonplace for him. He sometimes plays like a futsal player, capable of receiving the ball in tight spaces and using his body effectively. Last season, among Premier League central midfielders and defensive midfielders, only Elliot Anderson and Bruno Guimarães were fouled more often than his 1.95 times per 90 minutes. He consistently finds his way out of difficult situations through improvisation and flashy technique.

However, defensive capability is an area he has focused on improving over the past two seasons. Former AFC Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola helped him significantly, and Scott himself recognized that to reach the highest level, he needed to improve his off-ball performance.

"I think this step can turn a good player into a top player," he told Sky Sports last year.

The statistics speak volumes. Since the start of last season, only five players have made more defensive interceptions per 90 minutes than Scott; in total interceptions, only Anderson has more. His interception heatmap shows his extensive coverage, and his willingness to drift wide or push forward complements Iraola's trademark high press at AFC Bournemouth.

It was no surprise that Scott's first contribution in an England shirt, coming off the bench against the Czech Republic, was winning back possession. Four days later against Croatia, the pre-assist for England's opening goal was equally characteristic of his style.

Born in the Channel Islands, Scott is nicknamed "the Grealish of Guernsey." He first caught public attention as a teenager in February 2023 during Bristol City's FA Cup match against Manchester City.

He is naturally gifted at dribbling. In the first half against Manchester City, he delivered a stunning performance, including a memorable run past Julián Álvarez, Riyad Mahrez, Rico Lewis, and Kevin De Bruyne.

It's remarkable that in 2019, he was playing for Guernsey FC in the eighth tier of English football.

After the match, Pep Guardiola commented: "An incredible player."

Although Scott still possesses the delicate footwork he displayed at Ashton Gate, he has undergone a significant transformation.

Since joining AFC Bournemouth, extensive gym work has made him considerably stronger. Additionally, his tactical understanding has improved greatly (Iraola had a profound impact on this), and his on-field position has gradually shifted.

In his final season at Bristol City, he primarily played as a No. 10, enjoying the freedom that attacking position offered. Since joining AFC Bournemouth, he has developed into a more complete midfielder—what Tuchel described as an "all-around" midfielder.

He is dynamic in midfield, capable of playing as an No. 8 (his preferred position) or as a No. 6 in a double pivot, dropping deep to receive the ball and controlling the tempo with crisp short passes. Occasionally, as he did for the national team against Croatia, he can deliver penetrating long passes to unlock defenses.

Opta's definition of direct forward passes (passes completed in the attacking third that advance the ball at least 25% closer to the opponent's goal) is not his strength, and he ranks relatively low in this metric.

In contrast, his ball-carrying progression is among the best for his position, and his shooting threat and frequency are also prominent.

Who wouldn't want to sign him? A better question is: after this summer's transfers, which teams still have a chance?

Manchester City signed Elliot Anderson and Abdukodir Khusanov; Manchester United brought in Youri Tielemans, Leny Yoro, and Carlos Baleba; Tottenham secured Sandro Tonali and Matheus Fernandes.

Realistically, the potential buyers remaining are Liverpool, Arsenal, and Chelsea.

Given Iraola's strong working relationship with Scott and the club hierarchy's admiration for the player, Liverpool are naturally considered strong contenders.

Fans can easily connect the dots, with some believing Scott could be a more versatile replacement for Alexis Mac Allister, who was reportedly frustrated not to receive a new contract this summer. However, it's not that straightforward.

Strengthening midfield is not Liverpool's most urgent priority right now, as the team believes it has sufficient midfield depth (young players Trey Nyoni and James McConnell are highly regarded). In fact, Liverpool would prefer AFC Bournemouth to keep Scott until the end of the season and sell him next summer, when the transfer landscape might change.

As for Arsenal, with a strong midfield featuring the likes of Ødegaard, further signings in the short term are unlikely. However, a move after the season cannot be ruled out, as Arsenal have long admired Scott.

Many believe Chelsea will lead the race in the January transfer window. Chelsea's bid was rejected this summer, and they failed to sign Monaco midfielder Lamine Camara on deadline day.

All rival clubs acknowledge that Chelsea have the most pressing need for a midfielder. It's easy to imagine manager Enzo Maresca envisioning Scott partnering Caicedo in midfield.

Regardless, everyone knows that the "all-around midfielder" described by Tuchel is waiting to be signed.

AF's PC site is now live! Browse full news, comments, match details and stats on your computer. Visit: www.allfootballapp.com