100 million: Chelsea prepare for an exceptional deal
An ideal replacement to make up for Enzo Fernandez
Chelsea are ready to move decisively in the winter window for a midfield signing they see as pivotal.
According to TEAMtalk, confidence is growing inside Stamford Bridge that a January deal for Bournemouth star Alex Scott can be done. The belief is that the 23-year-old would struggle to turn down a move to the London club, who are preparing to meet Bournemouth's high financial demands.
Scott caught the eye recently in his first two international appearances for England. He picked up a thigh injury in the most recent of them and is expected to be out for up to five weeks.
Bournemouth refused to sell the midfielder last summer, but the report says their position has grown more complicated. Two years remain on a contract due to expire in the summer of 2028, and Scott has so far declined to extend it.
Chelsea believe Scott fits the project, given the group of young talents already assembled, plus the chance to work under coach Xabi Alonso and play alongside the likes of Cole Palmer and Morgan Rogers.
Those factors, the London club feel, could hand them an edge in the race. Bournemouth still hope to tie Scott to a new deal, one that could carry a release clause similar to the one they inserted in Antoine Semenyo's contract before his 62.5 million pound move to Manchester City.
According to TEAMtalk, Bournemouth will not give Scott up easily. They want a sum close to 100 million pounds, roughly 118 million euros, which would be a record sale in the club's history.
That valuation rests on the ages of players with great potential and their Premier League experience, with Bournemouth pointing to the fees paid for Elliot Anderson, Moises Caicedo and Declan Rice.
Plenty still has to fall into place. The deal depends on Chelsea's ability to meet the demands, Bournemouth's willingness to lose their player mid-season, and Scott's own stance on leaving in January rather than waiting until next summer.
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