Former Chelsea defender Glen Johnson believes Alex Scott looks like the “real deal” but there are still “question marks” over whether the Blues will make a move for the midfielder in January.
Chelsea failed to make a £64m bid for Scott in the summer transfer window and Bournemouth insisted the midfielder was not for sale. The Cherries’ stubborn stance has continued throughout the summer and he will remain at the Vitality Stadium until at least January.
Scott has less than two years left on his contract on the south coast, but Bournemouth want the England international to extend his deal. Chelsea, meanwhile, maintain a strong interest in Scott and are considering re-entering the market to sign him when the January transfer window is here.
FOLLOW OUR CHELSEA FB PAGE! Latest Blues news, analysis and more via our dedicated Facebook page
Bournemouth are expected to pursue a similar no-sale stance in the new year.
Scott has been excellent since signing for Bournemouth in the summer of 2023 and is attracting interest from not only Chelsea, but also Arsenal and Liverpool. Johnson, formerly of the Blues, has been impressed with Scott’s recent performances but has warned his old club that he cannot be the solution to their midfield woes.
Speaking exclusively football.london “Yeah, when you see him play, he’s probably going to be the real deal,” Johnson said of Live Football Tickets.
“Obviously there’s still a lot of question marks. You know, we’ve seen a lot of players shine in the pan and then fall, hopefully that’s not the case for him.
“But there’s more to prove and more to show than ‘he’s our man, go get him already’.”
Johnson and Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso’s paths crossed very briefly on game days. Liverpool signed Johnson from Portsmouth in June 2009, while Alonso decided to switch the Merseysiders to Real Madrid less than two months later.
The two would train together briefly in the preseason, and even from that brief experience, Johnson said it was clear that Alonso would one day take on a coaching role.
Johnson said: “No, it’s not a shock at all [that Alonso is managing]to be honest. He was one of those guys with that extra level of quality that you could tell was always learning football, watching every game and wanting to do things right.
“Even if we did little, little passing drills, he wanted to do it right. That’s how most professionals are, but that’s how aspiring coaches see the game.
“I’m not surprised he’s a manager and obviously it’s great to see him doing so well at Chelsea. Even in his other jobs he’s done a great job. So he can continue that at Chelsea.”
Chelsea, who have won their first two Premier League matches of the season, have fallen back to earth in their last three outings. Alonso’s side did not win a league game in September, drawing with Hull City and losing to the likes of Arsenal and Brentford before the international break.
Chelsea sit in 10th place after the first five games of the campaign, but that must improve dramatically, according to Johnson, who believes it is imperative for the Blues to challenge for the Champions League places again.
“I think they should at least challenge for the Champions League,” said the former Chelsea right-back. “I think they’d be biting your arm now if they were offered that. But I think it would still be a big step forward if they missed it.
“But I think the fans would definitely like to see them knock on the door and compete with the big guns again.”
Asked if Alonso needed time to build a project like Mikel Arteta did with Premier League champions Arsenal, Johnson said: “Everyone has to do what Arteta did, right? Because it worked so well.
“They need this year and maybe next season to build. But if this season goes well, I can’t rule out the title and the title race next year. They just have to keep going.”