According to a report by Football Transfer on Friday, October 30, 2026, Chelsea could be close to securing a major transfer deal, with Premier League rivals reportedly believing that Xabi Alonso's side are making progress towards signing Bournemouth midfielder Alex Scott ahead of the January window.

Several clubs have been monitoring the England international, but Chelsea and Liverpool are considered the leading contenders for his signature. Bournemouth reportedly value Scott at more than €120 million, although sources believe an offer of around €108 million could be enough to secure his services.

Chelsea's interest comes amid problems in midfield following Enzo Fernandez's summer departure to Manchester City. The Blues also failed to sign Monaco midfielder Lamine Camara on deadline day, leaving Alonso searching for alternatives.

Since then, Chelsea have struggled to find consistency in central midfield. No midfielder has started more than half of the club's Premier League matches, while summer arrival Jordan Henderson has played more league minutes than his teammates.

Reports suggest that several Premier League clubs believe Chelsea could complete a deal for Scott in January. The Stamford Bridge side are reportedly willing to spend around £90 million to significantly strengthen their midfield.

Such an investment would be considerably higher than the amount Chelsea were prepared to offer for Camara. However, Bournemouth's recent form could make negotiations for the highly rated 23-year-old more difficult.

Bournemouth have won five consecutive matches, including an impressive 3-0 away victory over Manchester United last week. Scott missed that winning run because of an injury, while his current contract with the club runs until June 2028.

The midfielder is viewed as a potential replacement for Fernandez, with statistical comparisons suggesting he could eventually outperform the Argentine. Analytics company SciSports reportedly rates Scott's development potential higher than that of his predecessor.

Chelsea sold Fernandez to Manchester City for approximately €145 million during the summer. Signing Scott for a significantly lower fee could therefore represent valuable business if he delivers similar performances and continues to develop.

However, Bournemouth are reportedly reluctant to lose key players midway through the season. Persuading the club to change its position could prove difficult, making Scott's potential arrival a major achievement for Chelsea and Alonso.