Arsenal's midfield gamble: targeting Alex Scott after Guimaraes deal

Arsenal have made contact with Bournemouth to secure midfielder Alex Scott after progress on the Bruno Guimaraes agreement, signalling a strategic push to refresh the middle of the park. The Cherries are reluctant to sanction the departure this summer, insisting on a fee nearer £80 million, well above Liverpool's earlier £64 million bid.

Scott enjoyed an outstanding 2025/26 campaign, making 37 Premier League appearances for Andoni Iraola’s side and helping Bournemouth qualify for the Europa League. His performances have drawn league‑wide attention and placed the England international among the most coveted midfielders.

Interest has poured in from several top clubs, including Chelsea, Manchester United and Liverpool. Liverpool’s £64 million offer was swiftly rejected, with Bournemouth holding out for a valuation close to £80 million, underscoring the player’s market weight.

Andrea Berta reached out to the south‑coast club early in the window, confirming Arsenal’s priority to sign a new central midfielder. The Gunners have also been hampered by Martin Zubimendi’s struggles and Declan Rice’s lingering injury, heightening the need for a quality number six or eight.

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Initially, the Italian sporting director targeted a younger option, scouting both Scott and Ayyoub Bouaddi. However, Rice’s condition deteriorated at the World Cup, prompting a shift of focus toward the Brazilian Bruno Guimaraes.

Arsenal are now closing in on a deal for Guimaraes, yet talkSPORT the club could still move for Scott if Bournemouth’s fee demand is met, keeping the midfield pursuit alive.

Further transfer chatter includes Vinícius Júnior’s contract talks with Real Madrid and a reported Manchester United interest in Myles Lewis‑Skelly. Should that move materialise, Arsenal’s pathway to sign Scott could become clearer.

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Arsenal’s midfield roster features several players aged 27 or older – Rice, Zubimendi, Guimaraes, Martin Ødegaard and Mikel Merino – making Scott a valuable long‑term option to inject youth and depth.

By Alfie Cairns Culshaw, Published Aug 5, 2026, 5:37 PM GMT+1, this story appears on GIVEMESPORT. Alfie joined the company in May 2024, is an avid Arsenal fan and season‑ticket holder, and previously worked for SportBible covering Liverpool and Manchester United. He creates YouTube content, runs a weekly podcast, and maintains an Arsenal Blog with over 59,000 Instagram followers. For us at GiveMeSport, here we give you the contact details to sign the next big story.