Chelsea is reportedly gearing up for a second, higher offer for Bournemouth midfielder Alex Scott, with an improved bid expected to be around £70 million.
Sources close to the agent industry indicate that Scott remains a primary transfer target for Chelsea this summer. The London club previously had a £64 million offer rejected by Bournemouth, who are adamant about not selling the 22-year-old.
Despite the initial setback, Chelsea is determined to pursue Scott and aims to initiate new negotiations with a bid closer to £70 million. However, a significant gap remains, as Bournemouth values the player at £80 million.
This pursuit of Scott is separate from Chelsea's anticipated move for Jordan Henderson and highlights the club's strategy to acquire younger talent for their midfield. While Chelsea appears to be leading the race, other major clubs like Manchester United, Liverpool, and Tottenham have also shown interest, with Arsenal making an inquiry earlier in the summer.
One insider suggested that Chelsea has invested the most effort so far, anticipating their £70 million offer might also be turned down. The situation remains fluid, with potential for other clubs to enter the bidding war. Notably, Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola is a known admirer of Scott.
Meanwhile, Arsenal seems to be prioritizing Bruno Guimaraes, and Manchester United is reportedly exploring other midfield options. The injury to Bournemouth's Eli Junior Kroupi is unlikely to force a sale of Scott, as the club is financially stable, especially after qualifying for European competition, and has already seen several players depart in recent transfer windows.
