Chelsea have reportedly made Bournemouth midfielder Alex Scott their top January target, but Gus Poyet wants his old club to sort out their midfield before spending a penny.
The Blues tried and failed to lure the England international away from the Vitality Stadium in the summer and are reportedly “fully focused” on getting a deal done in the winter. They are not alone either. “Liverpool”, “Manchester City” and “Manchester United” did not stop winning the competition.
Poyet likes the player. When asked if Scott could fill Enzo Fernandez’s boots at Stamford Bridge, the former Chelsea midfielder gave the move his stamp of approval, but with one big condition attached.
What does Poyet want Chelsea to do first?
For the poet, Scott’s question is secondary. “I like the player. I’ve seen him a lot and I think he’s a very good player. Chelsea must first decide on the players at the club before they sign someone else.” he said.
He added: “They have to decide what the future holds because they have Caicedo, Lavia, James and others in the center of midfield, so they have to decide who is going to be the main starter and then move on whether Scott is going to be the player they want and then who is going to continue.”
Why is Alex Scott worth pursuing?
Scott spent one season at Bournemouth’s academy between 2016 and 2017, made his name at Bristol City and was snapped up by the Cherries in 2023 for £19.2m. Since then he has scored seven goals for Bournemouth in all competitions and set up a further seven and won his first two senior England caps during the September/October international break.
However, there is a fitness concern. Scott aggravated his injury in England’s first match against Croatia and it remains to be seen whether Thomas Tuchel will pick him in the November squad named on Friday.
“Bournemouth” is not letting him go yet. Owner Bill Foley insisted the club still hoped to sign Scott to a new deal beyond 2028, while admitting that young players can sometimes be achieved. “Stars in Your Eyes”. The Cherries are already working on a Colombian winger from Vasco da Gama for January, and losing the midfield engine at the same time would be a very different window.
Who will Scott be up against at Chelsea?
Xabi Alonso has five established central midfielders: Moises Caicedo, Valentin Barco, Jordan Henderson, Romeo Lavia and Mehdi Nicoll-Jazuli. Reece James and Malo Gusto can fill in there if needed.
One is too young, one is running out of time
Nicol-Jazuli is only 16, so whatever happens with Scott, he will spend the next two or three years in the youth team or on loan. Henderson is 20 years his senior and is only under contract until 2028, when he turns 38. It’s hard to see him staying for more than 24 months.
Long-term basis
Barco and Caicedo are under contract until 2033, while Lavia, whose time at the club has been ruined by injuries, is under contract until 2030. Lavia has shown signs of revival alongside Caicedo in recent weeks and Henderson was in the middle when we picked Chelsea’s squad to face Manchester United.
If Scott were to arrive in January, the 23-year-old would be in direct battle with Lavia for a place alongside Barco and Henderson as Caicedo as a young and experienced back-up.
Verdict: Alex Scott only works if someone goes to Chelsea
The poet has a point. Chelsea have no shortage of bodies in midfield; They have a lineup where their oldest option is fading, their youngest is years away, and one of their two long-term starters continues to be injured. Scott Lavia would fix the problem, but only if Alonso was honest about who lowered the breaking rule.
And Bournemouth hold the cards. With three other Giants circling and Foley still talking about a new contract, January will be expensive. Chelsea need to settle their midfield first and then go all out for Scott, as a half-baked bid will get nowhere near Vitality in this race.