{"id":22579,"date":"2026-07-29T09:57:19","date_gmt":"2026-07-29T09:57:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/?p=22579"},"modified":"2026-07-29T09:57:19","modified_gmt":"2026-07-29T09:57:19","slug":"chelsea-lead-man-united-in-the-race-to-sign-midfielder-alex-scott","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/?p=22579","title":{"rendered":"Chelsea lead Man United in the race to sign midfielder Alex Scott"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div id=\"article-body\">\n<!-- Article Start --><\/p>\n<p><strong>Manchester United have completed background work on a potential move for Bournemouth midfielder Alex Scott, but Chelsea currently appear better positioned to secure his signature.<br \/><\/strong><br \/>The Blues have already tested Bournemouth\u2019s resolve with a substantial offer, while United\u2019s interest has not yet developed into a formal proposal.<\/p>\n<div id=\"message-list_1779082922.637049\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" aria-labelledby=\"primary-DPALHTQM9-1779082922.637049-sender primary-DPALHTQM9-1779082922.637049-message_text primary-DPALHTQM9-1779082922.637049-alt_text primary-DPALHTQM9-1779082922.637049-date_time primary-DPALHTQM9-1779082922.637049-reaction_count primary-DPALHTQM9-1779082922.637049-reply_count primary-DPALHTQM9-1779082922.637049-link_count primary-DPALHTQM9-1779082922.637049-attachment_count primary-DPALHTQM9-1779082922.637049-has_draft_reply primary-DPALHTQM9-1779082922.637049-pinned_state primary-DPALHTQM9-1779082922.637049-edited_state primary-DPALHTQM9-1779082922.637049-later_state primary-DPALHTQM9-1779082922.637049-broadcast_state primary-DPALHTQM9-1779082922.637049-broadcast_thread_root_message primary-DPALHTQM9-1779082922.637049-translated_state\" style=\"clear:left;\">\n<div>\n<div aria-roledescription=\"message\">\n<div>\n<div>\n<div>\n<div>\n<div>\n<div>\n<div>\n<div>\n<div><b>DOWNLOAD THE OFFICIAL CAUGHTOFFSIDE APP FOR ALL THE LATEST &#038; BREAKING UPDATES \u2013 STRAIGHT TO YOUR PHONE! ON <\/b><b><u><span draggable=\"true\">APPLE<\/span><\/u><\/b><b>  &#038; <\/b><b><u><span draggable=\"true\">GOOGLE PLAY<\/span><\/u><\/b><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Bournemouth continue to insist that Scott is not available, and their strong position is understandable.<\/p>\n<p>The 22-year-old played an important role in their impressive campaign and still has two years remaining on his contract.<\/p>\n<p>However, his reluctance to accept a new deal means the situation could become increasingly difficult for the Cherries if Chelsea return with an improved bid.<\/p>\n<h2>Chelsea lead Man United in Alex Scott race<\/h2>\n<p>According to The Athletic\u2019s Laurie Whitwell, Manchester United have done work on Scott as they assess possible midfield additions.<\/p>\n<p>However, Chelsea are considered his likeliest destination should Bournemouth eventually agree to sell.<\/p>\n<p>Chelsea have already submitted an offer worth \u00a364 million, but it was rejected by the south-coast club.<\/p>\n<p>Bournemouth maintain that Scott is not for sale, although that stance may be tested if the Blues move closer to their reported valuation.<\/p>\n<p>United remain interested but appear less prepared to meet the enormous asking price.<\/p>\n<p>Chelsea\u2019s willingness to make a serious opening proposal shows that their pursuit is more advanced, even though no agreement is currently close.<\/p>\n<section class=\"more-stories std-mgn-b\">&#13;<\/p>\n<div class=\"row\">\n<header class=\"col-s-12 std-mgn-t\">More Stories \/ <span class=\"topic\">Latest News<\/span><\/header>\n<div class=\"post-container col-s-4\">\n<p>\t\t\t&#13;<\/p>\n<div class=\"img-cntr\"><picture><source type=\"image\/webp\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/icdn.caughtoffside.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/COS-FeaturedHero-Image-Templates-3-5-190x114.jpg.webp 190w,https:\/\/icdn.caughtoffside.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/COS-FeaturedHero-Image-Templates-3-5-245x147.jpg.webp 245w,https:\/\/icdn.caughtoffside.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/COS-FeaturedHero-Image-Templates-3-5-320x193.jpg.webp 320w,https:\/\/icdn.caughtoffside.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/COS-FeaturedHero-Image-Templates-3-5-414x249.jpg.webp 414w,https:\/\/icdn.caughtoffside.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/COS-FeaturedHero-Image-Templates-3-5-630x379.jpg.webp 630w\" data-sizes=\"(min-width:1230px) 237px, (min-width:1020px) 190px, (min-width:900px) 280px, (min-width:680px) 30vw, (min-width:414px) 125px, 30vw\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1495\" height=\"900\" src=\"https:\/\/icdn.caughtoffside.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/COS-FeaturedHero-Image-Templates-3-5.jpg\" class=\"lazyload wp-image-1659477 has-webp lazyload\" alt=\"Man United breaking news\" srcset=\"https:\/\/icdn.caughtoffside.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/COS-FeaturedHero-Image-Templates-3-5-190x114.jpg 190w,https:\/\/icdn.caughtoffside.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/COS-FeaturedHero-Image-Templates-3-5-245x147.jpg 245w,https:\/\/icdn.caughtoffside.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/COS-FeaturedHero-Image-Templates-3-5-320x193.jpg 320w,https:\/\/icdn.caughtoffside.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/COS-FeaturedHero-Image-Templates-3-5-414x249.jpg 414w,https:\/\/icdn.caughtoffside.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/COS-FeaturedHero-Image-Templates-3-5-630x379.jpg 630w\" data-sizes=\"(min-width:1230px) 237px, (min-width:1020px) 190px, (min-width:900px) 280px, (min-width:680px) 30vw, (min-width:414px) 125px, 30vw\"\/><\/source><\/picture><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"post-container col-s-4\">\n<p>\t\t\t&#13;<\/p>\n<div class=\"img-cntr\"><picture><source type=\"image\/webp\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/icdn.caughtoffside.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/COS-FeaturedHero-Image-Templates-5-3-190x114.jpg.webp 190w,https:\/\/icdn.caughtoffside.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/COS-FeaturedHero-Image-Templates-5-3-245x147.jpg.webp 245w,https:\/\/icdn.caughtoffside.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/COS-FeaturedHero-Image-Templates-5-3-320x193.jpg.webp 320w,https:\/\/icdn.caughtoffside.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/COS-FeaturedHero-Image-Templates-5-3-414x249.jpg.webp 414w,https:\/\/icdn.caughtoffside.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/COS-FeaturedHero-Image-Templates-5-3-630x379.jpg.webp 630w\" data-sizes=\"(min-width:1230px) 237px, (min-width:1020px) 190px, (min-width:900px) 280px, (min-width:680px) 30vw, (min-width:414px) 125px, 30vw\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1495\" height=\"900\" src=\"https:\/\/icdn.caughtoffside.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/COS-FeaturedHero-Image-Templates-5-3.jpg\" class=\"lazyload wp-image-1661521 has-webp lazyload\" alt=\"Michael Carrick Man United\" srcset=\"https:\/\/icdn.caughtoffside.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/COS-FeaturedHero-Image-Templates-5-3-190x114.jpg 190w,https:\/\/icdn.caughtoffside.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/COS-FeaturedHero-Image-Templates-5-3-245x147.jpg 245w,https:\/\/icdn.caughtoffside.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/COS-FeaturedHero-Image-Templates-5-3-320x193.jpg 320w,https:\/\/icdn.caughtoffside.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/COS-FeaturedHero-Image-Templates-5-3-414x249.jpg 414w,https:\/\/icdn.caughtoffside.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/COS-FeaturedHero-Image-Templates-5-3-630x379.jpg 630w\" data-sizes=\"(min-width:1230px) 237px, (min-width:1020px) 190px, (min-width:900px) 280px, (min-width:680px) 30vw, (min-width:414px) 125px, 30vw\"\/><\/source><\/picture><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"post-container col-s-4\">\n<p>\t\t\t&#13;<\/p>\n<div class=\"img-cntr\"><picture><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1495\" height=\"900\" src=\"https:\/\/icdn.caughtoffside.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/COS-FeaturedHero-Image-Templates-8.jpg\" class=\"lazyload wp-image-1651406 lazyload\" alt=\"Chelsea FC corner flag and 'breaking news' banner\" srcset=\"https:\/\/icdn.caughtoffside.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/COS-FeaturedHero-Image-Templates-8-190x114.jpg 190w,https:\/\/icdn.caughtoffside.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/COS-FeaturedHero-Image-Templates-8-245x147.jpg 245w,https:\/\/icdn.caughtoffside.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/COS-FeaturedHero-Image-Templates-8-320x193.jpg 320w,https:\/\/icdn.caughtoffside.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/COS-FeaturedHero-Image-Templates-8-414x249.jpg 414w,https:\/\/icdn.caughtoffside.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/COS-FeaturedHero-Image-Templates-8-630x379.jpg 630w\" data-sizes=\"(min-width:1230px) 237px, (min-width:1020px) 190px, (min-width:900px) 280px, (min-width:680px) 30vw, (min-width:414px) 125px, 30vw\"\/><\/picture><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>&#13;<br \/>\n<\/section>\n<h2>Blues must be careful due to Boutnemouth\u2019s asking price<\/h2>\n<p>talkSPORT reports that Bournemouth value Scott at around \u00a380 million after rejecting Chelsea\u2019s bid.<\/p>\n<p>The midfielder has also turned down a new contract, potentially giving interested clubs greater leverage as his existing agreement moves closer to its final year.<\/p>\n<p>Scott would give Chelsea another technically secure midfielder who can carry possession through pressure, progress the ball and operate in several central roles.<\/p>\n<p>His Premier League experience also means he should require less adaptation than a player arriving from abroad.<\/p>\n<p>However, Chelsea must consider whether spending close to \u00a380 million is necessary when Enzo Fern\u00e1ndez and Mois\u00e9s Caicedo already occupy key midfield positions.<\/p>\n<p>Scott needs regular football to continue developing, not another rotational role.<\/p>\n<p>United may offer a clearer pathway, but Chelsea have created the momentum by submitting an actual bid.<\/p>\n<p>A deal around \u00a365 million with achievable add-ons could make sense. Paying Bournemouth\u2019s full valuation would be excessive for a player who is talented but not yet an established elite midfielder.<\/p>\n<p><em><strong>Chelsea struggling to agree a fee for left-back target, ready to change their transfer strategy <\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<p><!-- Article End -->\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Manchester United have completed background work on a potential move for Bournemouth midfielder Alex Scott,&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3723,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"pagelayer_contact_templates":[],"_pagelayer_content":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-22579","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-chelsea"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22579","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=22579"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22579\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/3723"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=22579"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=22579"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=22579"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}