Liverpool target Alex Scott in £100m January move as Wirtz struggles to find form

Liverpool are set to pursue a third nine-figure signing in 18 months, with Bournemouth midfielder Alex Scott emerging as their primary January target at an expected fee of around £100m, according to reports from journalist Nizaar Kinsella of the BBC and Fabrizio Romano.

The move is being framed in part by Florian Wirtz’s difficult adaptation to English football since his £100m arrival last summer. In 57 appearances for the club, the German international has contributed just seven goals and 12 assists — a return that has left supporters underwhelmed given the scale of the investment, though Wirtz did produce an encouraging display in European action midweek.

Manager Andoni Iraola is reportedly considering shifting Dominik Szoboszlai into his preferred No.10 role, where Wirtz has largely operated. That tactical reshuffle would create space for a new central midfielder with greater defensive bite — a profile Scott fits.

The 23-year-old has been one of the standout performers in the Premier League’s opening weeks, recently earning his first England cap and cementing himself as Bournemouth’s most influential player. He made all but one league appearance under Iraola last season as Bournemouth finished sixth — a record high — and qualified for European football for the first time in the club’s history.

Despite Bournemouth’s efforts to extend his contract beyond its current 2028 expiry, Scott has declined to commit his long-term future to the south coast club. Bournemouth are now open to offers in January, with Chelsea also credited with interest. Transfermarkt values the Guernsey-born midfielder at €70m, though the reported asking price sits considerably higher.

Scott’s absence was felt sharply at the weekend — Bournemouth were thrashed 5-1 at Chelsea without him — underlining both his importance to Marco Rose’s side and the urgency of any potential deal for Liverpool.