Dynamic midfielder dribbling forward on pitch with dramatic stadium lighting

Bournemouth Reject £64m Bid as Chelsea Push Hard for Alex Scott

By Declan Farrow - 1st Aug 2026, 05:00pm

The Granit Xhaka door has been slammed shut by Sunderland, and Xabi Alonso is now pushing hard for Alex Scott as his midfield solution – but Bournemouth’s rejection of a £64m bid means this one is far from straightforward, and frankly, we’re going to need to go higher.

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Football London‘s Jake Stokes has reported that Sunderland manager Regis Le Bris has officially closed the book on a Xhaka exit this summer, announcing after a 4-2 friendly defeat to Liverpool that the Switzerland international will be staying at the Stadium of Light. With that avenue closed, football.london also understands Chelsea have turned their attention firmly to Bournemouth’s Alex Scott – and have already had a £64m bid knocked back by the Cherries.

£64m rejected – and Bournemouth are insisting Scott is not for sale

Frankly, the Xhaka situation was always a long shot once Sunderland rejected our opening £8m bid and the player himself decided he wouldn’t force a move. Le Bris was unambiguous when speaking to reporters – Xhaka loves the club, wants to help build their future, and that’s that. Chelsea were reportedly preparing a higher offer, but it never came to that.

So the focus shifts entirely to Scott, and as we covered when the bid was first rejected, this is not a straightforward negotiation. Bournemouth are insisting he is not for sale this summer, and their position hasn’t shifted despite the approach. Scott’s current deal runs until June 2028, giving the Cherries no immediate pressure to move.

What complicates things further – and works slightly in our favour – is that Scott has reportedly turned down a contract extension offer from Bournemouth earlier this month. That’s a significant signal. A player who wants to stay doesn’t reject new terms. His preference for a move to Stamford Bridge appears to be the engine behind this entire situation, and Bournemouth know it.

Alonso, speaking to reporters in Sydney on Monday, was clear that the window isn’t finished. He said there will still be movements, that the squad needs flexibility for injuries and two cup competitions, and that the balance of qualities, personalities, and maturity is what he’s chasing before the first Premier League game. Scott fits that brief precisely.

Xabi Alonso speaking at a press conference with sponsorship logos in the background — Xabi Alonso addressing the media during a press conference.

What we’re actually getting – a midfielder built for exactly this moment

Scott is 22, established in the Premier League, and was a core part of the Bournemouth side that pushed for European football last season. He’s a box-to-box midfielder with the ball-carrying ability and press-resistance that Alonso wants in the engine room alongside Moises Caicedo. That’s not a guess – it’s why every major club in the division is circling him.

Bournemouth midfielder Alex Scott wearing a blue and black striped kit on the pitch. — Alex Scott during a match for AFC Bournemouth.

What Chelsea’s midfield has lacked in recent seasons is someone who can drive forward with the ball and arrive late into the box with purpose. Scott does both. He’s not a like-for-like Xhaka replacement in terms of profile – Xhaka would have brought veteran leadership and positional discipline – but Scott offers something arguably more useful to a team still building under a new manager: energy, dynamism, and serious upside.

Alonso’s rebuild has a midfielder still firmly in his sights, and Scott is clearly the name at the top of that list right now.

Arsenal, City, United – Chelsea need to move faster

The competitive picture here is uncomfortable. Arsenal, Manchester United, Manchester City, and Tottenham have all been linked with Scott, and if Bournemouth’s stance softens as the window runs down, we will not be the only club ready to escalate. Chelsea need to be at the front of that queue when it matters.

The good news is that Scott’s own preference appears to point toward Stamford Bridge, and that carries real weight in how this plays out. Bournemouth may hold firm all summer, but a player who turns down a new contract and has a clear destination in mind is a difficult thing for any club to manage long-term.

Whether we come back with £70m or push toward the Cherries’ valuation, this saga is heading toward a resolution one way or another. We just need to make sure it resolves in our favour.