Bournemouth have rejected a £64m bid from Chelsea for midfielder Alex Scott, making clear to the Blues that any further approaches would not be welcomed as they intend to keep one of their star players. The 22-year-old England Under-21 international has turned down a new contract that has been on the table for at least two months, with Arsenal, Manchester United, Tottenham and Manchester City also expressing interest earlier in the window.
Bournemouth are under no pressure to sell after qualifying for the Europa League and generating significant income through the summer sales of Dean Huijsen, Milos Kerkez, Illia Zabarnyi and Dango Outtara. They have taken a similar stance with forward Junior Kroupi, who is attracting interest from Arsenal and Tottenham, while Brazil international Rayan – who only joined in January – is also not expected to leave.
“Bournemouth reject £64m Chelsea bid for Alex Scott amid record-breaking summer transfer spending.”
The rejection comes in a transfer window already breaking records. This summer alone, Chelsea agreed a £117m deal for Aston Villa's Morgan Rogers, Manchester City paid Nottingham Forest £116m for Elliot Anderson, and Tottenham spent a club record £100m on Sandro Tonali, plus £85m on West Ham's Mateus Fernandes. It is the first Premier League window to produce three £100m-plus signings, with weeks still to go before deadline day on 1 September.
Football finance expert Kieran Maguire said one record fee quickly influences the next. “It sets a benchmark,” he said. “Forest wanted to be close to the record level because they felt Elliot Anderson was a critical player… We’ve then seen that surpassed by the Morgan Rogers fee – only slightly – but it allows the club to say, ‘This is the record English signing’. So there’s an element of bragging rights involved.”
Meanwhile, Manchester City have reportedly reached an initial agreement with Lille midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi over personal terms, with the 18-year-old Morocco international expected to sign a contract until 2031. Lille are demanding around €100m (£85m) for a player who made 42 appearances last season and impressed at the World Cup. Lille chairman Oliver Letang hinted at the price, saying: “When I see Anderson move to Manchester City for £116m and Tonali to Tottenham for £100m, and they don’t have the potential for development that Ayyoub has because he possesses unique qualities.”
Former France international Emmanuel Petit praised Bouaddi, telling talkSPORT: “He’s been one of the strongest young players in France… The confidence, he’s got quality, he’s got physical presence, he’s got the tactical knowledge, he’s got the technical skills.” City, who have already signed Anderson for £116m, see Bouaddi as someone who can go straight into Enzo Maresca’s starting line-up. Arsenal and Manchester United have also been linked with the teenager.
With the market showing no signs of slowing, Bournemouth’s stance on Scott – and on Kroupi and Rayan – will be tested as the deadline approaches.