Arsenal have joined Liverpool and Chelsea in contacting Bournemouth about Alex Scott, but the Gunners are the one club of the three who would rather wait until the summer.
According to The i Paper, all three clubs have made exploratory enquiries about the 23-year-old England midfielder ahead of the January window. They want to find out what it would take for Bournemouth to sell a player who has made it clear he will not sign a new contract.
The answer, for now, is a lot. Bournemouth’s position is that it would take more than £100m to prise Scott away in the middle of the season, and people close to the club have dismissed the idea that £80m would even start talks.
Why are Arsenal in no rush for Alex Scott?
Liverpool and Chelsea are said to be the keenest on a January deal. Arsenal would prefer a summer move, when Scott will be down to the final year of his contract and his price should drop sharply.
That fits how Mikel Arteta’s side have gone about their business. They are top of the league, the midfield is not short of bodies, and Andrea Berta has already shown he will not be dragged into an auction he does not need. We looked at how that played out last summer, when Arsenal let a £117m target go to Chelsea from a shortlist of more than 20.
The catch is that the Gunners may not get to set the timetable. If a bidding war starts in January, waiting could mean watching Scott sign for a direct rival.
What would it cost?
The £100m figure is not just Bournemouth playing hardball. It reflects the cost of replacing him, the £25m they paid Bristol City for him, and a hefty sell-on clause: Bristol City are entitled to 20 per cent of any fee Bournemouth receive.
The Cherries have form here, too. They turned down several offers from Chelsea worth around £70m in the summer, while other midfielders moved for about £100m in the same window. Tottenham and Manchester City also registered an interest back then before moving on when Bournemouth made it clear he was not for sale.
Scott is said to earn around £50,000 a week, so a move to any of the three clubs chasing him could triple his wages.
Will Bournemouth sell in January?
A source told The i Paper it is far from a “done deal” that Scott leaves in January. He is said to be happy to stay on the south coast until the end of the season, and Bournemouth have little desire to sell with the side chasing Europe.
Bournemouth have won eight games in a row in all competitions under Marco Rose, sit seventh in the Premier League, and defender James Hill has just been called up by England. That is not a club that needs to cash in.
A big enough offer would still be considered, though. With 18 months left on his deal, this January may be their last chance to get top money for him.
Who is the favourite to sign Scott?
Chelsea have long been seen as favourites, but Liverpool are now serious contenders. Their manager, Andoni Iraola, worked with Scott at Bournemouth before Rose took over, and that link adds another angle to their interest.
Arsenal’s interest is newer, and it comes at a time when their own midfield is under the microscope. Martin Zubimendi said this week he hopes to stay until the end of the season despite links with Atletico Madrid, while Declan Rice has grown into the No.6 role he says took him about a year to master.
Verdict: Alex Scott is a summer deal for Arsenal
Arsenal’s stance makes sense. Paying more than £100m in January for a player who would be a squad option until the summer is poor business, especially when the same player could be far cheaper in six months.
The risk is real, though. If Chelsea or Liverpool go big in January, Scott will not be waiting around for Arsenal. Berta has to decide whether this is a player worth fighting for now, or one he is happy to let go if the price never comes down.
