Carragher tips Iraola to raid Bournemouth for Scott and Rayan after Liverpool move

Jamie Carragher has raised the prospect of Liverpool pursuing Bournemouth midfielder Alex Scott and forward Rayan, pointing to manager Andoni Iraola’s deep familiarity with both players as a potential catalyst for future transfer moves.

Iraola joined Liverpool after three seasons at Bournemouth, where he guided the club into European competition for the first time. Scott and Rayan were central figures in that run, and Carragher believes the Spaniard’s existing relationships could give Liverpool an edge in any pursuit.

“I think he’s a wonderful player,” Carragher said of Scott. “There was a lot of interest in him in the summer and because Liverpool have a former Bournemouth manager, you almost think: will there be a link or will there be a couple of players moving that way? I thought Rayan was fantastic last season as well. There are some fantastic players here at Bournemouth.”

Bournemouth resisted approaches from Chelsea and Manchester United for Scott during the summer window, but the 21-year-old remains one of the most coveted midfielders outside the top six. Liverpool’s midfield has drawn criticism this season despite the presence of Dominik Szoboszlai, Ryan Gravenberch, Alexis Mac Allister, and Florian Wirtz, leaving Scott as a credible target when the window reopens.

A move for Rayan appears less straightforward given Liverpool’s recent outlay in attack. Bradley Barcola became the club’s third signing to exceed £100 million over the past two summers, joining Alexander Isak and Wirtz. Cody Gakpo, Rio Ngumoha, and Victor Munoz provide further forward depth, making another front-line addition harder to justify in the near term. Rayan, who was named in Brazil’s World Cup squad, has also had a slower start to the current season, though Carragher noted a midweek goal may help him rediscover his best form.

The Iraola-to-Liverpool pipeline already has one precedent. Left-back Milos Kerkez moved to Anfield after impressing under the Spaniard at Bournemouth, though he has struggled to replicate that form since the switch. Iraola is understood to be working to unlock the player’s best qualities.

Liverpool’s most recent meeting with Bournemouth ended in a 1-0 win at the Vitality Stadium, with Isak’s strike settling the contest.