Chelsea are preparing to make a renewed push to sign AFC Bournemouth midfielder Alex Scott before the transfer window closes next week.
The Blues had an initial £64m offer for the 23-year-old rejected by Bournemouth, but they are now ready to return with an improved bid worth around £85m.
Scott has emerged as Chelsea’s primary midfield target as manager Xabi Alonso looks to strengthen his options in the centre of the park.
Chelsea currently have Moises Caicedo, Enzo Fernandez, Romeo Lavia, and Dario Essugo as their senior midfield options following Andrey Santos’ departure to Manchester United.
The club also brought in Jordan Henderson to add experience to the squad, but further reinforcements remain a priority heading into the final days of the window.
Lavia and Essugo have both struggled with fitness issues over the past 12 months, leaving the squad thin in central areas during important periods of the season.
Fernandez’s future at Stamford Bridge also remains uncertain, with Manchester City in talks with the Argentinian international’s representatives over a potential summer move.
City are unwilling to match Chelsea’s £120m valuation for Fernandez, though his current deal runs until 2032 and Chelsea may accept a lower fee with add-ons included.
With those factors in mind, Chelsea have begun identifying potential replacements and have identified Scott as their top priority, ahead of AS Monaco’s Lamine Camara and Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton.
Bournemouth have made clear they do not wish to sell Scott and have already offered him a new long-term contract, though the player has rejected that proposal.
Scott’s existing deal with the Cherries runs until 2028, but the England midfielder is reportedly keen to take the next step in his career by moving to a bigger club.
The versatile 23-year-old is capable of operating as a box-to-box midfielder while also providing cover in defensive midfield and as a central attacking midfielder.
His combination of dribbling ability, defensive work rate, and ability to play threading passes between the lines has made him one of the most coveted midfielders in the Premier League.
Chelsea now face a race against time to push through a deal for Scott before next week’s transfer deadline if they are to land their key midfield target this summer.