Chelsea move ahead of Liverpool in race for Alex Scott as Iraola reunion fades

Chelsea have moved ahead of Liverpool in the race to sign Bournemouth midfielder Alex Scott, with Fabrizio Romano reporting that the Blues are in talks with Scott’s entourage over a transfer to Stamford Bridge. The development is a blow to Liverpool manager Andoni Iraola, who had been linked with a reunion with the player he worked with at Bournemouth.

Scott had been identified as a midfield target for Liverpool, with the club expected to prioritise that area of the squad in the January window and beyond. However, Chelsea’s intervention appears to have shifted the balance significantly.

Bournemouth, who had previously insisted Scott was not for sale, are now understood to be open to a deal after the 23-year-old turned down a contract offer that would have made him the highest-paid player in the club’s history. With around 18 months remaining on his current deal, Bournemouth face mounting pressure to secure a fee rather than risk losing him for nothing. TEAMtalk has suggested the south-coast club would want in the region of £100 million for their playmaker.

On a separate recruitment front, Liverpool are also monitoring Stuttgart centre-back Finn Jeltsch, though any move is expected to target the summer of 2027. The 20-year-old has attracted attention from some of European football’s biggest clubs, with Barcelona, Real Madrid and Juventus also reported to be tracking his progress.

Jeltsch joined Stuttgart from Nurnberg last year and has quickly established himself as one of the Bundesliga’s most promising young defenders. His rapid rise earned him a first call-up to the senior Germany squad under Jurgen Klopp during the most recent international break, though he did not earn a cap. Klopp’s endorsement of the youngster is understood to be a factor in Liverpool’s interest.

Iraola himself is gradually finding his footing at Anfield after a difficult start to his tenure. Liverpool have won two of their last three Premier League fixtures and currently sit fifth in the table, with Sunday’s home fixture against an in-form Brighton side their next test.