Bournemouth owner Bill Foley has made the most public admission yet that Alex Scott's head may have been turned, conceding the midfielder might have "stars in his eyes" over Chelsea — while insisting the Cherries have "not given up" on tying their prized asset to a new contract.
Scott, 23, is into the final two years of the deal he signed when he joined Bournemouth from Bristol City for £25m in 2023, and it runs until June 2028. The England international has rejected past offers of an extension, and the latest round of talks between his representatives and the club has produced no breakthrough.
"Sometimes players get stars in their eyes"
Speaking to talkSPORT ahead of Bournemouth's Europa League tie with AC Milan, Foley was strikingly candid about the fight on his hands. "At this point, we're convinced we're the right place for Alex to be and to stay, and we'll keep on addressing the contract issues with Alex as we move through this year," he said, in quotes carried by Sky Sports.
"We'd love to have Alex stay here and sign a new contract and be part of this team for the long haul. We haven't given up, but sometimes players get stars in their eyes, and they think that Chelsea or Manchester City is the right place to go."
Foley added that he does not want to sell anyone and defers to president of football Tiago Pinto on transfer plans. He also admitted Bournemouth "hated to lose" Antoine Semenyo, who left for Manchester City — a reminder that the Vitality Stadium has already waved goodbye to one star name this year.
Chelsea frontrunners, Liverpool watching
Standard Sport reports Bournemouth have changed their stance and are now open to selling Scott in January if an offer worth more than £100m arrives, with a significant bid slightly below that figure also set to be seriously considered. Chelsea are viewed by industry insiders as the frontrunners: the Blues failed with a £68m offer in the summer and see Scott as the midfielder to fill the gap left by Enzo Fernandez's move to Manchester City. Scott has also been reported to have spoken with Chelsea boss Xabi Alonso about the move.
Liverpool held serious interest in the summer and could yet return, but TEAMtalk reports the Reds are also compiling dossiers on two alternative midfield targets who would cost considerably less, and that talk of Scott having already chosen Anfield is premature. TEAMtalk's sources go further, claiming Scott has decided to move on from Bournemouth as soon as possible after turning down the club's offer of a new deal.
So what happens next?
The timing could hardly be more awkward for Bournemouth. Scott is currently sidelined with a tendon injury suffered on England duty, and he missed Thursday's superb 3-0 Europa League win over AC Milan. An injured player cannot force a move, but a long absence also eats into the negotiating window before January — and every week without a new contract weakens Bournemouth's hand, because Scott's value only falls as 2028 approaches.
Chelsea, who host Tottenham on Saturday, must also decide how badly they want him. They have tracked other midfield talent, including Como's Nico Paz, and neither they nor Liverpool are expected to rush to meet a £100m asking price for a player who will enter the final year of his deal next summer. Bournemouth's trip to Manchester City this weekend is a reminder of the level Scott believes he belongs at — and of the clubs waiting if Foley cannot persuade him otherwise.
Beyond the Final Whistle: Foley's honesty is refreshing, but it reads like the first page of an exit story. Owners do not talk about stars in a player's eyes when they expect him to sign — they talk like that when they are softening up supporters for a sale. Bournemouth's real decision is not whether Scott goes, but when: £100m in January while he is injured and Chelsea are keen, or a cut-price fee next summer with his contract running down. On the evidence of the Semenyo sale, expect Bournemouth to cash in while the price is at its peak — and expect Chelsea, who never replaced Fernandez, to be the club that pays it. Do you think Scott is worth £100m, or should Chelsea walk away and wait until the summer?
