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Chelsea's three bids for Alex Scott all rejected by Bournemouth

·By Junior Yekini
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Chelsea's three bids for Alex Scott all rejected by Bournemouth

Bournemouth/X.com

Chelsea have had three bids rejected for Bournemouth midfielder Alex Scott, with the Cherries adamant none of their key players will leave before deadline day.

The three offers from the Blues ranged from £62million to £68million, but Bournemouth have emphatically reaffirmed their intention to keep the 23-year-old on the south coast this season, according to The i Paper.

Scott's representatives broke off contract talks with the Cherries last month amid serious interest in the England international, prompting Chelsea's series of bids. Bournemouth, who will learn their Europa League group-stage opponents in Friday's draw, have made their position clear to the player, his agents and rival clubs alike: none of their leading assets will be sold before the 1 September deadline.

Chelsea want Scott as they continue to weigh up their midfield options, but sources say the "not-for-sale" stance has been communicated unambiguously. Manchester City, who have already sold Rodri to Barcelona and are close to finalising a £47million deal with Newcastle United for Nico González, are also keen on Scott, but are said to be aware of Bournemouth's approach and are instead pursuing other targets.

One of those alternative targets is, somewhat ironically, Chelsea's own Enzo Fernández, who has attracted strong City interest of his own this summer.

Chelsea, however, have made clear they will not sell the Argentina international unless a replacement is lined up first — and that replacement will not be Scott, however much speculation continues to swirl around his situation over the closing week and a half of the transfer window.

Scott's stock has risen sharply since his breakthrough at Bournemouth, having become a regular in Andoni Iraola's midfield and drawn interest from multiple leading Premier League clubs across the summer.

With his current deal running through to 2028, Bournemouth are under no financial pressure to sell, giving them considerable leverage in any future negotiations even as Chelsea continue to circle.

Bournemouth's stance forms part of a broader club-wide policy of resisting approaches for their most valuable players this window. For Chelsea, the failure to prise Scott away leaves Xabi Alonso still searching for reinforcements through the middle of the park as his side build on last season's foundations, with the deadline fast approaching.