Bournemouth's resolve to keep Alex Scott appears to be wavering as the England midfielder continues to reject fresh contract proposals at the south coast club, according to Sky Sports News.
The club's position has shifted markedly. Should a substantial offer arrive in the January transfer window, Bournemouth would now seriously entertain it. Scott himself has not pushed for an exit, yet he harbours ambitions to test himself at elite institutions and is keen to explore what those opportunities might offer.
Chelsea and Liverpool have maintained their pursuit of the 23-year-old midfielder. Manchester City, Arsenal, Manchester United and Tottenham all showed earlier interest before bolstering their own midfield ranks during the summer window, having been told unequivocally by Bournemouth that Scott remained unavailable.
According to BBC Sport, the club would consider a January departure if a bid of around £100m materialised, though Sky Sports News sources have indicated that an offer exceeding £80m with add-ons would command serious consideration from the Cherries.
Scott's contract situation adds urgency to any potential negotiation. His current deal, which he signed following his 2023 arrival from Bristol City for £25m, does not expire until 2028. However, the midfielder rejected two contract extension offers at the end of last season, leaving the club acutely aware that his market value will diminish as his existing agreement runs down.
Bournemouth's willingness to negotiate stems partly from their current league position. The club has yet to register a Premier League victory this season and suffered a heavy 5-1 defeat at Chelsea last weekend. The board has indicated they would only seriously consider sales if the club achieves practical safety from relegation by January.
Scott's record at Bournemouth underscores his importance to the club. He has contributed seven goals and seven assists across 95 appearances in all competitions since joining from Bristol City.
The midfielder's immediate future remains clouded by injury, however. He has aggravated a thigh tendon problem while on international duty with England, where he earned his full senior debut. This setback means he faces an extended spell sidelined, complicating any potential January discussions.
Rose insists Scott committed despite exit talk
Bournemouth head coach Marco Rose has moved to quash speculation about Scott's future, insisting the midfielder remains fully committed to the club despite mounting January transfer chatter.
Speaking ahead of the club's Europa League fixture against Sturm Graz on Wednesday, Rose dismissed the timing of the speculation as premature.
We just closed the other transfer window and we're now talking about the next one. We are just focused on the game against Sturm Graz and the upcoming game in the Premier League - and not commentating on rumours that show up right after the last transfer window closes.
The German manager reflected on the relentless questioning he faced during the summer regarding Scott's availability, emphasising that the club had settled the matter then.
It's not frustrating anyway for us. I told you that Alex Scott was going to stay in the summer. We got questions after questions in press conferences for I don't know how many weeks.
Rose reiterated his confidence in Scott's character and dedication to Bournemouth.
He's a player of our club and now he's injured, we are looking forward to having him back in a couple of days and weeks and we'll continue with Alex Scott. And he's quite committed, everyone can see it from the first games of the season.
Injury timeline clouds immediate picture
Scott's quadriceps injury represents a significant complication in any transfer scenario. The midfielder is expected to miss between six and eight weeks of action, having felt discomfort before playing 70 minutes in England's match against Croatia.
The injury timeline means Scott could miss a substantial portion of Bournemouth's fixture list. He is set to be sidelined for nine matches scheduled between 10 October and 8 November, a period that encompasses crucial early-season games for both the Premier League and Europa League campaigns.
Bournemouth's next fixture comes against Sunderland on 18 October 2026, a match Scott will certainly miss as his rehabilitation continues.
