Liverpool eye Felix Nmecha as £115m Alex Scott price tag forces back-up plan

Liverpool are considering Borussia Dortmund midfielder Felix Nmecha as a contingency option should Bournemouth’s asking price for Alex Scott prove prohibitive, with the Cherries reportedly valuing the England international at as much as £115m.

According to CaughtOffside, Nmecha, 26, represents a more attainable target at a reported £75.9m. The German international signed a new Dortmund contract in January, though that is not believed to have deterred Liverpool’s interest. Chelsea are also said to be tracking Nmecha, mirroring the competition Liverpool face for Scott.

Nmecha is familiar with English football, having come through the Manchester City academy, and would reportedly be open to a return to the Premier League. Liverpool are one of several clubs credited with interest in Scott, who is widely expected to become a long-term fixture in the England setup.

The transfer speculation follows Liverpool’s hard-fought 2-1 win at Brentford on Saturday, in which second-half goals from Victor Munoz and Alexander Isak overturned a deficit caused by Keane Lewis-Potter’s 44th-minute header. The match was significantly shaped by a red card for Brentford’s Yehor Yarmoliuk on the stroke of half-time, with Vitaly Janelt also dismissed for a second yellow in stoppage time — though Brentford still threatened an equaliser despite finishing with nine men.

The victory, while welcome, prompted concern from former Liverpool midfielder Danny Murphy. Analysing the performance on Match of the Day, Murphy praised the contributions of Munoz, Isak, and young players Rio Ngumoha and Trey Nyoni, but raised structural worries about Andoni Iraola’s side.

“Liverpool are too easy to play through, they really are,” Murphy said. “They’re disorganised in the press. I’m not sure whether it’s a change of personnel; I’m not sure if they’re going to need a bit more time. Wirtz is playing as a 10 behind Isak. He’s not in the right position, they’re not ready to press.”

Iraola now faces a quick turnaround, with a home Champions League fixture against Villarreal on Tuesday followed by Brighton’s visit on Sunday. Liverpool head into the European tie with maximum points from their opening two group-stage games, having beaten Atletico Madrid and LASK.