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Chelsea are preparing to submit a second, improved offer for Bournemouth midfielder Alex Scott, according to journalist Florian Plettenberg.

The Blues are looking to strengthen their midfield and are trying to take the Englishman to Stamford Bridge after an excellent season that brought him plenty of attention.

Even before Chelsea allowed Andrey Santos to depart, they were already in need of another midfielder. His exit has made the obvious gap even more visible.

Alongside Moises Caicedo and Enzo Fernandez, Chelsea are badly short of quality in the middle of the pitch.

Romeo Lavia cannot be trusted because of his injury record, and Dario Essugo has also found it difficult to produce consistent performances, which has left the Blues needing more reinforcements.

Scott would be a very strong signing for the West London club. Former Chelsea manager and current England boss Thomas Tuchel admires his ‘intensity’.

The 22-year-old is an outstanding box-to-box midfielder who can do everything in the engine room. He can tackle, play the pass, and make tireless runs.

Scott will only improve further in terms of arriving in the box and controlling matches, but he is already performing at a very high level.

Xabi Alonso’s side will need to offer more than the £64 million bid they made a few days ago. There are reports that he is open to a move to Stamford Bridge.

If Chelsea do manage to sign Scott, it should not be taken as a reason to sell Fernandez.

The Argentina international remains one of the best midfielders in world football and brings a level of creativity, control and big-match quality that Scott has not yet reached.

Scott has the ability to grow into a top-class player, but he should come in as Fernandez’s understudy rather than as his replacement.

Developing under a World Cup winner could speed up his progress, while Chelsea would gain valuable depth in midfield instead of weakening their starting XI.

Fernandez wants to leave, but no club has come in with an offer, and the Blues should persuade him to stay by offering a worthwhile new contract.