Bournemouth owner insists club 'haven't given up' on keeping £100m-rated Alex Scott amid Chelsea pursuit

Bournemouth owner Bill Foley has publicly declared that the club have not abandoned hope of keeping Alex Scott, the England midfielder valued at £100 million, despite sustained interest from some of Europe’s wealthiest clubs.

Scott, 23, was the subject of a reported £64 million bid from Chelsea during the summer transfer window — an offer Bournemouth rejected outright. Liverpool, Manchester City and Real Madrid have also been credited with interest in the Guernsey-born midfielder, making him one of the most coveted players in the Premier League.

Speaking to talkSPORT, Foley struck a cautiously optimistic tone while acknowledging the difficulty of retaining top talent against elite competition. “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.

“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 also acknowledged the broader reality of Bournemouth’s model, noting that many of their younger players arrive at the Vitality Stadium expecting to develop and eventually move to larger clubs — a dynamic that complicates long-term retention.

Scott’s current contract runs until the end of the 2027/28 season, meaning Bournemouth face a narrowing window to either secure an extension or maximise his transfer value. The club are believed to have set their asking price at £100 million, significantly above what Chelsea offered in the summer.

The midfielder is currently sidelined with a thigh injury sustained on England duty, causing him to miss Premier League fixtures against Chelsea and Arsenal, as well as Europa League matches against Sturm Graz and AC Milan.

Bournemouth have nonetheless thrived in his absence in Europe, winning all three of their Europa League group-stage matches — including back-to-back 3-0 home victories. Their most recent triumph came against AC Milan on Thursday, with Justin Kluivert and Marcus Tavernier converting penalties before Amine Adli sealed the win with a free kick. Milan goalkeeper Mike Maignan was sent off after conceding the first spot kick, leaving the Rossoneri to finish the match with ten men.