Reporter Jamie Dickinson broke the story on X that Liverpool are considering a £40 million bid for Bournemouth midfielder Alex Scott. The news spread quickly before the transfer window has even officially opened—not only because of the fee itself, but also because Reds boss Andoni Iraola has just signed a two-year contract with the club, with Scott widely seen as a leading candidate for his first summer signing.
The £40 Million vs £60 Million Gamble
According to Dickinson, whether this potential deal goes through hinges on two factors: Liverpool must raise their offer to meet Bournemouth's £60 million asking price for Scott; and the Reds must beat Manchester United and Tottenham in the race for his signature. The 22-year-old Scott is currently training intensively with Thomas Tuchel's England squad in Miami, with all three Premier League giants keeping a close eye on the young midfielder.
Scott produced a breakout season at Bournemouth last term, proving a key piece in the club's push for Europa League qualification. Site data shows the Cherries drew 1-1 away on the final day of the 2025-26 Premier League season, with a steady run of form through the closing stages. Scott's ability to link play and drive forward from midfield is precisely why several clubs are willing to splash the cash.
Iraola's First Piece of the Puzzle?
Thursday, Liverpool officially announced that Iraola will succeed Arne Slot as head coach. Iraola had previously been at the helm of Bournemouth, working alongside Scott for a full season and knowing his qualities inside out. Scott himself also publicly praised the Spanish coach after news broke of Iraola's impending move to Liverpool: "He's clearly an excellent coach — look at what we achieved at Bournemouth and the way the team plays." That statement was widely circulated on social media, further fueling the narrative of a reunion between mentor and protégé.
For Liverpool, strengthening midfield in the summer transfer window is a practical need. Despite finishing last season with a 1-1 draw at home on the final day, the Reds still face squad integration pressure — the club invested around £415 million last summer to bring in Alexander Isak, Florian Wirtz, Milos Kerkez and others. How the new manager unlocks this crop of expensive signings will directly shape next season's trajectory. Against that backdrop, a tentative £40 million bid for Scott looks more like building a familiar tactical framework for Iraola.
Three-way chase and the bigger picture
Scott is not Liverpool's only target. The same source indicated that the Reds also remain interested in RB Leipzig winger Yan Diomande (priced at around £100 million), as well as Bradley Barcola and Adam Wharton. By comparison, Scott's £40 million asking price carries a lower threshold and better fits the logic of "signing a midfielder you know inside out first."
Manchester United and Tottenham's involvement has complicated matters. Dickenson explicitly noted that Scott was a Tottenham fan in his childhood, with the north London club having long tracked his development; United, meanwhile, badly need midfield reinforcements after a 0-3 defeat on the final day of the Premier League season, and have also placed Scott on their shortlist. If all three clubs bid simultaneously, Bournemouth's £60 million asking price is likely to be pushed even higher.
From both a commercial and sporting standpoint, the social media buzz around this transfer is hardly surprising: Iraola’s “first signing being a former protégé” and Scott’s labels as an “England international and Premier League rising star,” combined with Manchester United and Tottenham bidding for the same player, naturally make for a story with strong viral appeal. Yet there remains a £20 million gap between £40 million and £60 million, and whether Liverpool will be willing to increase their bid for a midfielder who has yet to prove himself on the biggest stage will be the central storyline of the transfer window over the coming weeks. Fans should pay close attention to Scott’s form during England’s training camp, as well as whether the Cherries receive a formal written offer.
