Arsenal Contact Bournemouth Over Alex Scott Ahead of January

Arsenal have initiated exploratory contact with Bournemouth regarding England midfielder Alex Scott ahead of the January transfer window. The north London club have formally registered their awareness of the 23-year-old midfielder's situation at the Vitality Stadium, establishing an early dialogue with their Premier League counterparts. However, discussions remain firmly preliminary, with no formal bid submitted and no transfer fee agreed or reported.

Reports published on 11 November 2026, originating from i Sport and featured on national back pages, confirm that Arsenal are not alone in tracking Scott. Domestic rivals Chelsea and Liverpool have also contacted Bournemouth regarding the 23-year-old midfielder. The interest highlights Scott's growing reputation as clubs assess potential mid-season reinforcements.

With Scott tied to Bournemouth under a contract running until summer 2028, the Cherries hold a commanding negotiating position. Arsenal's approach reflects measured due diligence rather than an imminent deal, allowing the recruitment team to survey options before deciding whether to formalize their pursuit in January.

Target Age

23 Years Old

Contract Expiry

Summer 2028

Reported Suitors

Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool

Current Club

Bournemouth

Exploratory Inquiries and the Race for Scott

Arsenal's decision to join Chelsea and Liverpool in contacting Bournemouth signals a proactive recruitment posture. Early inquiries establish communication lines between clubs, clarifying whether an opponent is open to discussions and outlining the general parameters a transfer would require.

Crucially, no formal bid has been submitted by Arsenal, Chelsea, or Liverpool. Neither Bournemouth nor the interested clubs have attached a specific price tag to Scott. Because Scott's contract extends until summer 2028, Bournemouth face no immediate pressure to sanction a mid-season departure. Any suitor hoping to complete a deal must present a compelling proposal to tempt the Cherries into negotiations.

Bournemouth are simultaneously focused on their own squad planning. While fielding calls regarding Scott, the Cherries are pursuing Vasco da Gama striker Andres Gomez alongside Everton and Nottingham Forest. The 24-year-old Brazilian forward is valued at about £17m by his club, illustrating the active market dynamics currently occupying Bournemouth's hierarchy.

Midfield Stability: Zubimendi's Commitment and Rice's Fitness

Arsenal's inquiry regarding Scott comes as their existing midfield department attracts attention. Speculation has surfaced around 27-year-old Spanish midfielder Martin Zubimendi, who has been linked with potential moves. According to the Independent, Chelsea, Real Madrid, and Atletico Madrid are all monitoring Zubimendi with hopes of completing a transfer for the Spaniard in January.

However, Zubimendi has firmly rebuffed suggestions that he is seeking an exit. Speaking to Marca, the midfielder stated that he is 'happy' in London and expressed surprise at the transfer rumours. Zubimendi clarified that he has not contacted anyone regarding a move, reinforcing his immediate commitment to Arsenal.

Arsenal have also received reassuring news regarding England midfielder Declan Rice. Rice caused concern after being substituted during Arsenal's win over Hull heading into the international break. Those fears were quickly allayed as Rice proved fit enough to join up with the England squad, where he is expected to feature in Nations League action against Croatia on Thursday night.

Elsewhere across English football, midfield planning remains active. Aston Villa are weighing up a move for Chelsea midfielder Romeo Lavia, while Liverpool are preparing to reward 19-year-old England Under-20 midfielder Trey Nyoni with a new contract following his performances so far this season.

Offensive Scrutiny: Gyokeres Addresses Performance Criticism

While Arsenal survey potential January options, the current squad remains under scrutiny. Striker Viktor Gyokeres has spoken out to address criticism of his displays, insisting he wants to stay at Arsenal. The Swedish forward was the club's top scorer in his first season at Emirates Stadium, playing his part in the Gunners ending their 22-year wait for a Premier League title.

Despite that success, Gyokeres has looked an uncomfortable fit for this Arsenal side for large periods, with Mikel Arteta consistently favouring Kai Havertz over the Swede in the biggest matches. The No14 has started only one league match for Arsenal this season, missing out on a place even after scoring and assisting against Slavia Prague in the Champions League.

Speaking to Swedish outlet Fotbollskanalen, Gyokeres addressed his mindset: 'It feels good when I’ve played. We’ve won most of the games. It was a tough loss in the cup [Fleetwood]. Otherwise it’s felt good for myself and the team. I’ve been doing well lately when I’ve been playing. Right now it feels good.'

Gyokeres also elaborated on his working relationship with Arteta: 'The communication with Arteta is good. We talk about football and how we should play. Before a match, if I’m going to start, we talk about the opponents and what I should think about.'

Troy Deeney has been among those to criticize Gyokeres, claiming Arsenal players do not trust the striker to give him the ball on the pitch. Gyokeres remained unfazed: 'Sometimes it might get to me, but overall not so much. If I score goals and assists in the Champions League, I couldn’t care less what they say.'

Defensive Picture: Konsa Recovery and Saliba's Return

Arsenal's immediate priority centers on defensive fitness following the international break. Central defender Ezri Konsa has been managing a knee problem sustained during Arsenal's 2-1 away win against Slavia Prague. Although Konsa completed the full 90 minutes at home to Hull three days later, England manager Thomas Tuchel confirmed that Konsa would miss England's Nations League clash at home to Croatia at Wembley Stadium.

Tuchel detailed the cautious approach taken by England's staff during his pre-match press conference: 'It’s my understanding at the moment that they will be both available but we will not take the risk. For tomorrow, both out for tomorrow. You saw it, they were not in training. They follow their own programme, and the understanding and the hope and the belief, I would say, is that they’re both in individual training on Friday, team training on Saturday and match ready on Sunday.'

If Konsa features against Spain on Sunday, he is on track to be available for Arsenal's trip to St James' Park to face Newcastle on Saturday, November 21. His recovery comes as competition intensifies, with a fit-again William Saliba challenging Konsa and Gabriel for a central defensive starting berth.

Defensive planning is equally active elsewhere. Manchester United have added Brentford's 25-year-old Republic of Ireland centre-back Nathan Collins and Fulham's 26-year-old Nigeria international Calvin Bassey to their list of defensive targets, alongside Everton's 24-year-old England defender Jarrad Branthwaite.

What Arsenal's Scott Inquiry Means for January

Arsenal's initial contact with Bournemouth over Alex Scott represents measured, forward-looking squad evaluation rather than a concluded negotiation. With Chelsea and Liverpool also expressing interest, the 23-year-old England midfielder has emerged as a sought-after talent ahead of the mid-season window.

However, with no formal bid submitted, no transfer fee agreed, and Scott under contract at Bournemouth until summer 2028, any potential deal remains in its infancy. For Arsenal, opening lines of inquiry allows Arteta and the recruitment team to survey the market while keeping their midfield options agile.

As the Gunners prepare for a demanding schedule starting at St James' Park on November 21, domestic and European ambitions remain top priorities. Reaching out for Scott demonstrates that while Arsenal remain focused on current challenges, their long-term squad evolution is being actively shaped well before January.