Arsenal have entered talks to sign Alex Scott this summer, with the club making formal enquiries about the Bournemouth midfielder, according to journalist Ben Jacobs.
Andrea Berta, Arsenal’s sporting director, has been involved in the discussions, signalling that the Gunners are serious about adding Scott to their squad.
The 22-year-old has rejected a contract extension at Bournemouth, adding further momentum to speculation surrounding his future at the club.
Scott’s current deal runs until 2028, but Bournemouth have set a firm £80m asking price and remain unwilling to sell him cheaply despite his refusal to extend.
The Cherries are prepared to hold onto the former Bristol City man even if he does not put pen to paper on a new deal, putting themselves in a strong negotiating position.
Arsenal are not alone in their pursuit, with Manchester City and Manchester United also credited with serious interest in the Guernsey-born midfielder.
Scott was a key performer for Bournemouth last season, making 37 Premier League appearances and contributing three goals and one assist throughout the campaign.
He caught the eye particularly during a visit to the Emirates Stadium in April, recording a 91% pass-completion rate, making one key pass, and scoring a late winner in a surprise 2-1 victory.
Declan Rice has played 5,394 minutes of football since August 2025, more than any other outfield player at the major Premier League clubs, which adds context to suggestions that Arsenal need reinforcement in central midfield.
Graeme Souness recently weighed in on Rice’s limitations, saying: “Rice, for me, is limited. You hear people talk about Rice as a world-class footballer. I think he might be a centre-half.”
Souness elaborated further, adding: “My criticism is: he doesn’t have enough football in him. You talk about ‘look how he runs with the ball.’ As a centre midfield player that’s what you shouldn’t do.”
One significant complication in any potential Arsenal move for Scott is the midfielder’s own admission about his footballing loyalties, having stated: “I’ve always been a Spurs fan.”
Tottenham have moved heavily in the transfer market this summer, signing Sandro Tonali and Mateus Fernandes in big-money deals, which could make a move to N17 unlikely for now.
It remains to be seen whether Scott would be willing to join his boyhood club’s fiercest rivals, a decision that would inevitably draw intense scrutiny from supporters on both sides.
Should a deal for Scott prove too complicated, Arsenal also have alternatives in mind, with Newcastle United’s Bruno Guimaraes understood to be keen on making the move to the Emirates Stadium.