Andoni Iraola has been backed to lure Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United target Alex Scott to Liverpool after the midfielder rejected a new Bournemouth contract, according to reports.
Scott's standout season
Scott only missed one of Bournemouth's league games last season as they secured a brilliant sixth-place finish to qualify for Europe for the first time. The 22-year-old's form almost saw him named in England's World Cup squad, but Thomas Tuchel instead opted for Jordan Henderson and Kobbie Mainoo as his back-ups for Declan Rice and Elliot Anderson. Despite that, Scott was one of five players who joined the England squad's preparation camp in the United States ahead of the tournament, with interest in his services for next season only heightening since then.
Contract rejection and valuation
Scott still has two years left on his contract at Bournemouth, but has reportedly turned down a new contract from the Cherries as they look to tie down their star midfielder. Such news will likely pique the interest of several top Premier League clubs who may look to test Bournemouth's resolve for Scott, who is believed to be valued at around £80 million. Arsenal are keen to sign a new central midfielder to bolster Mikel Arteta's options but saw an approach for Scott turned down in June. Manchester United and Chelsea are both also said to be interested in signing Scott, who joined Bournemouth from Bristol City in 2023 for £25 million.
Heskey backs Liverpool move
However, Emile Heskey believes that Liverpool should look to enter the race for the Englishman, and believes former Cherries boss Iraola could help coax Scott to join him at his new club. 'When you look at the young midfielders moving around the market right now, he's right up there with the best of them, and he probably wouldn't command half the inflated price tag of others despite being just as talented,' the former Reds striker told 10bet. 'The great thing for me is that Iraola has already proven he can get the absolute best out of him. Having a player like that make the step up with a manager who already trusts him inside out would be a massive asset.'
Bothroyd suggests Chelsea
Elsewhere, former Premier League striker Jay Bothroyd believes that a move to Chelsea to work under Xabi Alonso could be perfect for Scott's career development. 'If I'm looking at his options, I would say Arsenal, and I would say Chelsea, I think he's more likely to play more regularly there and kind of step in and maybe be a mainstay,' he told Sky Sports. 'Norgaard hasn't featured for Arsenal, Zubimendi is more of a defensive player and Rice played so many games last year and had a tough World Cup as well. He's put loads of minutes in there and he's going to want time off and Arsenal need to hit the ground running. So someone like Alex Scott who can come straight in and play first game of the season, they would be looking at that. But I would look at Chelsea. They're doing their business early, Xabi Alonso was a world-class midfielder in his day and they've only got Caicedo. Fernandez might be trying to move; Lavia has been injury-prone, so I think that was probably the one that I would look at if I were him.'
