The 22-year-old has established himself as one of the Premier League’s highly regarded midfielders, attracting interest from several clubs following his performances for Bournemouth. Liverpool and Chelsea are understood to be among the leading contenders for his signature as both sides assess their midfield options.
Liverpool’s interest is reportedly driven in part by Scott’s previous success under Iraola at Bournemouth, while the Reds are also looking to strengthen their midfield following Curtis Jones’ departure during the summer transfer window.
Chelsea, meanwhile, have also been linked with the midfielder as they continue to assess their options in the middle of the park after failing to secure a replacement for Enzo Fernandez during the summer.
Bournemouth had previously resisted attempts to sign Scott, pricing him out of a move during the last transfer window. However, transfer expert Fabrizio Romano has indicated that the club’s position may have changed ahead of January.
Romano said: “Alex Scott could leave Bournemouth in January in case of big proposal.
“The stance has changed after meeting with agents as Bournemouth rejected all the proposals in the summer.”
Iraola’s backing could give Liverpool advantage
According to a report by TEAMtalk, Liverpool believe they are leading the race to sign Scott, with Iraola’s reported endorsement of a potential move to Anfield emerging as a significant factor in the transfer pursuit.
The Bournemouth manager is said to have backed the prospect of Scott joining Liverpool, with his familiarity with the midfielder potentially helping the Merseyside club gain an advantage over Chelsea.
The report suggested that Iraola’s support could carry considerable weight as Liverpool’s hierarchy evaluates whether to pursue a deal in January.
It stated: “That endorsement could now carry considerable weight as Liverpool assess whether to make a move, potentially as early as the January transfer window.
“The Anfield hierarchy are conducting their due diligence on a possible deal, weighing up the financial implications of pursuing a player Bournemouth value at more than £100million. However, there is growing belief within Liverpool that Iraola’s connection with Scott could help tip the balance in their favour.”
Bournemouth’s reported valuation, which exceeds £100 million, could nevertheless prove a major obstacle for Liverpool, with the club expected to consider the financial implications before committing to a substantial offer.
Although Scott’s relationship with Iraola could strengthen Liverpool’s position, Chelsea’s interest means the Reds may still face significant competition if Bournemouth decide to entertain offers in January.
Barnes questions need for Bournemouth recruitment
Not everyone associated with Liverpool believes signing Scott would necessarily improve the squad.
Former Liverpool winger John Barnes previously questioned whether the club should pursue Bournemouth players, arguing that the Reds already possessed sufficient quality in their existing squad.
Barnes singled out Scott’s relationship with Iraola as a possible reason behind the transfer speculation, suggesting that the midfielder’s suitability could depend heavily on the identity and tactical preferences of Liverpool’s manager.
“There’s no Bournemouth player I’d like to see him bring to Anfield with him because I don’t think there’s a Bournemouth player who’s better than what we already have,” Barnes said.
“Alex Scott is somebody that’s trusted by Andoni Iraola, but I think the only reason he’d arrive at the club would be solely due to the manager. Iraola understands him and if Arne Slot was still the manager, and he’s a different manager to Andoni, then maybe he’d have been less suited.”
Barnes’ comments highlight the importance of tactical compatibility in any potential deal, particularly as Liverpool weigh the cost of signing a player who would command a substantial transfer fee.
With Bournemouth reportedly more open to a January departure and Liverpool believing Iraola’s connection with Scott could work in their favour, the coming months could prove decisive in determining the midfielder’s future.
However, no completed deal has been announced, and Liverpool would still need to satisfy Bournemouth’s valuation before any transfer could materialise.