Xabi Alonso could drop players from his squad to make way for a long-term target
Chelsea will likely be delighted by the latest news regarding the future of Bournemouth midfielder Alex Scott.
The England international has been a top target for the Blues this summer and has been the subject of three bids for Xabi Alonso’s side, including a whopping £68million bid. The Cherries have remained firm in their desire to keep hold of the 23-year-old but are now ready to sell their talisman in January if they receive a £100m bid.
Scott was forced to leave the Vitality Stadium in the summer window and rejected offers of a new contract to leave the club. The nine-figure fee demanded by Marco Rose would be a record sale for the Premier League side, eclipsing the £62.5m they received from selling Antoine Semenon to Manchester City.
Chelsea are interested in signing Scott but may need to raise funds to seal the deal. Given the number of players on their books, it may come easier to the west side of London than other clubs.
football.london Alonso looks at four players who could be prime options for the market to offer a deal for Scott.
Alejandro Garnacho – £42.5 million
Alejandro Garnacho lasted just one season at Stamford Bridge, with the former Manchester United star scoring eight goals in 43 appearances in all competitions. He was allowed to leave in the summer, prompting Aston Villa to sign him on loan, a deal that “will become permanent next summer if he meets certain criteria,” according to his parent club.
football.london It is understood the Argentine forward will sign a four-year deal with the Villars at the end of the season, subject to the terms of his £42.5m buyout clause.
The 22-year-old has made just three league appearances for Unai Emery’s side and his departure is likely to cover almost half of Scott’s price. Garnacho’s career stalled after leaving Old Trafford and he failed to rekindle his once-promising potential in west London.
Jamie Gittens – £22 million
The 22-year-old joined Chelsea last summer for £48.5m but has had a difficult debut season at Stamford Bridge. The England winger has scored just one goal in 27 appearances in all competitions, 11 fewer than he scored in his final season at Borussia Dortmund.
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He has played just 56 minutes of football this season and was sidelined until late October after picking up an injury on international duty with England Under-21s. Gittens lacks opportunities as he has to battle the likes of Cole Palmer, Morgan Rodgers, Pedro Neto and Estevao for a place in Alonso’s side.
According to Transfermarkt, Gittens’ value has dropped to £22m after failing to make the desired impact at Chelsea.
Benoit Badiashile – £23 million
The French defender was one of several players allowed to leave Chelsea earlier this summer after being deemed surplus to requirements. Badiashile, 25, has joined Napoli on loan for the rest of the season, with the Serie A giants having the option to sign him permanently for £23million.
The centre-back made 71 appearances for the Blues over four seasons, but his form was inconsistent and he never formed a productive partnership with the likes of Axel Disasi or Levi Colwill.
Robert Sanchez – £13 million
Robert Sanchez’s move to Como was sealed on deadline day after the Blues signed him Aston Villa’s Emiliano Martinez. The Spanish goalkeeper joined the Italian side on a season-long loan and has since started just one game for the club as he is now Jean Butez’s assistant.
According to Transfermarkt, the 28-year-old is currently worth £13m and his days at Stamford Bridge may be numbered thanks to the faith he has in Martinez and 21-year-old Mike Penders.