The race for Bournemouth’s Alex Scott just got a whole lot simpler. Manchester United have pulled out. Chelsea’s £64m bid has been rejected. And the 22-year-old midfielder reportedly favours a move to Arsenal.
But can the Premier League champions actually get this deal done?
Scott’s Contract Rejection Changes Everything
It started with a contract rejection. According to Sky Sports, Scott has turned down multiple offers from Bournemouth since negotiations began in March. The Cherries made extending him a top priority this summer, but he’s shown no willingness to sign.
That refusal sent shockwaves through the Premier League.
Arsenal, Manchester United, and Chelsea all pounced. BBC Sport confirmed in June that Arsenal had already seen an approach knocked back. United and Chelsea followed — both rebuffed too.
Bournemouth aren’t bluffing. They’ve insisted Scott isn’t for sale, even with just two years left on his deal. They qualified for the Europa League for the first time in the club’s history last season and don’t want to lose one of their best players heading into European competition.
New manager Marco Rose has been publicly emphatic about keeping Scott.
“I think Alex knows what he has with this club, and it’s always about the right moment to do the next step,” Rose told reporters last week. “Because if you are a young player and you do steps too fast, too quick, then it’s getting difficult.”
Man Utd’s Exit Opens the Door
Here’s where it gets interesting for Arsenal.
The Mirror reported that United have officially walked away from the deal. Their valuation of Scott sits around £40m — roughly half of what Bournemouth are demanding. The Cherries want at least £70m, and they’re not budging.
United already signed Andrey Santos and Youri Tielemans this summer. They’re now looking at alternatives like Botafogo’s Danilo and Brighton’s Carlos Baleba instead.
So that’s one rival gone.
Chelsea, meanwhile, saw a £64m bid dismissed within hours, according to BBC Sport. Bournemouth made it clear that further approaches wouldn’t be welcomed.
That leaves Arsenal as the most prominent suitor still standing.
TEAMtalk’s Graeme Bailey reported that Scott is willing to join the Gunners, though he does have concerns about playing time. And who could blame him? Arsenal’s midfield already features Declan Rice, Martin Zubimendi, Mikel Merino, and Myles Lewis-Skelly.
Where Does Scott Fit in Arsenal’s Plans?
This is the tricky part. Arsenal aren’t solely focused on Scott.
Fabrizio Romano revealed that personal terms have already been agreed with Newcastle’s Bruno Guimaraes, and a £70m bid is being prepared. The Brazilian is Mikel Arteta’s primary midfield target. If that deal goes through, it’s hard to see Arsenal spending another £70m+ on Scott.
But what if Newcastle refuse to sell?
That’s where Scott becomes the backup plan — or maybe something more. ArsenalNews.co.uk reported that the Gunners have already identified who they’ll pursue if Guimaraes falls through, and Scott’s name keeps surfacing.
Consider the broader context too. This summer’s Premier League midfield market has been absurd:
- Elliot Anderson moved to Man City for £116m
- Sandro Tonali joined Tottenham for around £100m
- Mateus Fernandes went to Spurs for £85m
Against those numbers, £70m for a 22-year-old English international who made 37 Premier League appearances last season doesn’t look so outrageous.
Scott scored three league goals last season, including one at the Emirates against Arsenal in April. He’s an energetic ball-carrier with pressing instincts that fit perfectly into Arteta’s system.
Bournemouth aren’t going to make this easy. They’ve used the release clause strategy before — convincing Dean Huijsen and Antoine Semenyo to sign new deals with exit clauses before selling them to Real Madrid and Man City. They’d love to do the same with Scott. But the player isn’t biting.
For now, it’s a standoff. Bournemouth don’t need the money. Scott doesn’t want to re-sign. Arsenal are the club he’d prefer to join — if they come calling with the right offer.
The next few weeks will tell us whether Arteta’s midfield rebuild runs through Newcastle, Bournemouth, or both. One thing’s clear: Alex Scott’s future won’t be decided at the Vitality Stadium.
