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Alex Scott declines new Bournemouth deal as Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United circle: report
Sameer Bhatia | July 22, 2026 9:59 AM CST

Alex Scott has caught the attention of several top Premier League clubs after turning down a fresh contract offer from Bournemouth.

The England Under-21 midfielder has rejected Bournemouth’s latest proposal amid growing interest from Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United, according to reports.

The 22-year-old has emerged as a key transfer target for a number of Premier League heavyweights this summer, with the Cherries reportedly rejecting an approach from Arsenal last month.

Bournemouth remain determined to keep hold of Scott as they prepare for their historic first-ever European campaign in the 2026/27 Europa League. However, his refusal to extend terms is expected to heighten interest from potential suitors.

Scott has rapidly developed into one of the Premier League’s most promising young midfielders since joining Bournemouth from Championship side Bristol City in 2023 for £25 million.

He played a pivotal role in England’s European Under-21 Championship triumph in 2025 and earned his first senior call-up later that year. Scott was also part of Thomas Tuchel’s pre-World Cup 2026 training camp in Florida, though he has yet to feature for the senior side.

Last season, Scott featured in 37 Premier League matches, helping Bournemouth secure a sixth-place finish – the club’s highest ever league position – and qualification for European football. According to BBC Sport, the contract he rejected had been on the table for at least two months.

His decision is set to alert several of England’s top clubs, with Chelsea, Manchester City, Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur, and reigning champions Arsenal all understood to be monitoring his situation closely.

Manchester United are believed to have made Scott one of their primary transfer targets this summer, though Bournemouth continue to insist that the midfielder is not for sale.

Scott still has two years remaining on his current deal with the Cherries and could command a transfer fee in the region of £80 million. Nonetheless, the club are under no immediate financial pressure to sell, having generated over £200 million in player sales since last summer.

Dean Huijsen, Milos Kerkez, Illia Zabarnyi, and Dango Ouattara all left during the 2025 summer transfer window, while Antoine Semenyo completed a move to Manchester City in January.

Scott’s refusal to sign a new contract could now test Bournemouth’s resolve, with any potential deal likely to surpass the club-record £65 million received from Semenyo’s transfer.

Despite the ongoing speculation, Scott was part of Bournemouth’s travelling squad that flew to Austria on Monday for a 10-day pre-season training camp.

The trip will offer new manager Marco Rose an opportunity to intensify preparations for the upcoming campaign following his appointment as successor to Andoni Iraola at the end of last season.


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