Bournemouth don open door to sell England midfielder Alex Scott in January, but na under some condition. The 23-year-old bin dey push to leave Vitality Stadium since he reject two contract offers at the end of last season. Bournemouth still insist throughout the recent international break say he no dey for sale.
But after final round of talks with his representatives, senior sources talk say Bournemouth go allow Scott sale if offer of about £100m land in January. Another condition na Bournemouth position for Premier League table. If dem dey struggle near bottom of league, club fit decide say dem need Scott to help dem secure survival.
E remain one big shift in stance. During summer, Bournemouth reject interest from plenty clubs. Every member of Premier League so-called big six believed to don make contact to different degrees. All clubs dem tell say make dem no make offer or approach player. Chelsea test water with initial £60m bid wey rise to £64m in add-ons, but Bournemouth reject am.
Chelsea and Liverpool believed to still retain interest. Manchester City, Manchester United and Tottenham don move on to other targets over summer. Liverpool go dey strong position, with manager Andoni Iraola maintaining close relationships with him former club, both with Scott himself and figures in Bournemouth leadership. Chelsea bin previously get encouragement from Scott representatives to pursue deal.
Scott currently out for at least one month with thigh injury he sustain during England 7-0 win over Croatia in Nations League. He remain on same contract he sign when he join Bournemouth from Bristol City in 2023 for £25m, and contract go expire in 2028.
Decision to consider Scott sale na bitter-sweet one for Bournemouth. Club enter season insisting say none of their prized assets, including Scott, Rayan and Eli Junior Kroupi, go sell before summer of 2027. But since then, dem reluctantly conclude say dem go prepared to let Scott leave if their valuation met.
Bournemouth fit point to market where spending on midfielders don reach unprecedented levels across Premier League. Three players don command fees of more than £100m for the position, and Bournemouth dey seek similar amount for Scott. TransferRoom report wey dem release on Tuesday show say spending on defensive midfielders rise by 191% to 1.38bn euros, while average fee increase by 156% to 9.9m euros – highest average fee of any position.
There is also frustration inside club say Scott pick up injury while he dey away with England. He enter camp carrying tightness, only for issue to worsen and leave him sidelined for about six weeks. That one come after Kroupi sustain serious injury in pre-season, causing him to miss entire season so far, with return not expected until November.
New manager Marco Rose never win league match, with 5-1 defeat by Chelsea representing lowest point of him tenure so far. There remains hope say results go improve. Iraola endure even longer winless run when he first take charge, while there is excitement around Bournemouth Europa League campaign. Their European adventure begin with impressive win against Real Sociedad and e continue with home game against Sturm Graz on Thursday.
