Arsenal and Liverpool have had hopes of landing a January deal to sign in-demand AFC Bournemouth midfielder Alex Scott boosted as the Cherries rethink their approach to the 23-year-old's future.

Scott was the centre of transfer speculation this summer with little more than 18 months remaining on his current deal at the Vitality Stadium. The player has refused to sign an extension on the south coast so far.

In a new update, GMS senior football correspondent Ben Jacobs believes that Scott's latest injury has caused a shift in strategy at Bournemouth, which could benefit interested suitors come January.

AFC Bournemouth could reduce Alex Scott asking price

Scott featured in the first five Premier League games of the season for Bournemouth, picking up a goal and an assist from defensive midfield, but has since been missing with a thigh injury. The midfielder sat out of the 5-1 defeat to Chelsea and the 2-0 win over Sunderland last weekend.

The midfielder picked up the problem while away with England on international duty over the recent break. An initial eight-week time frame had been put on the player's return, but Cherries boss Marco Rose is confident that Scott can return earlier.

Last week, the Bournemouth manager said: “We did an MRI and the pictures looked really well. His progression, his healing, is in a good way. Better than we expected.

“It means not that he is ready for Sunderland or next week but we can progress his rehab training, we can bring him back on the pitch to see how he responds.

“We are not talking about six to eight weeks anymore. We are quite confident that we get him back maybe a little bit earlier.”

Nonetheless, according to Jacobs, Scott's time on the treatment table could cause a change in transfer strategy at Bournemouth.

The club were adamant that the player was not for sale in the summer and were determined that he would play for the Cherries throughout the 2026/27 campaign, with the hope that Scott may change his mind about signing a new deal.

The south coast outfit had hatched plans for a contract extension which would include a release clause for the summer of 2027, and could work in the player's benefit should an interested club be willing to cough up a fee.

Jacobs said: "But then Scott got injured, and in that injury, it's given all parties an opportunity to speak away from the match cycle, and Bournemouth have changed their mind with a few catches about selling Scott mid-season.

"And this is born out of the fact that it is difficult for Bournemouth to just wait on Scott until the summer because his value will depreciate if he doesn't sign a new deal, whereas in January they might be able to play on the urgency of certain clubs and the inflated market for midfielders could carry over to the winter as well.

"So Bournemouth are now, in a bit of a surprise, I would say, certainly compared to the summer, prepared to sell Alex Scott mid-season, at the right number, and on one condition, and that is if the football team are not sucked into mid-season, come Christmas or so, a relegation battle, and then they may feel that it's more valuable to keep Scott and get them out of trouble."

Alex Scott 2025/26 stats -

Arsenal, Liverpool and Chelsea all interested in Alex Scott

Bournemouth currently sit 15th in the Premier League table, after a slow start under Rose. The Cherries have won just one of their opening seven outings.

Should a January exit be approved, it's believed that Bournemouth may be willing to accept a fee lower than the £100 million originally touted. Liverpool, Arsenal and Chelsea are all said to be interested.

The Reds are expected to be in the market for a new midfielder, and Chelsea still have space to replace Enzo Fernandez following his departure this summer. Arsenal snapped up Bruno Guimaraes from Newcastle United, but Jacobs does not believe that would prevent another marquee midfield arrival at the Emirates Stadium. Interest from abroad could come from Bundesliga juggernauts Bayern Munich.

Jacobs explained:

"I would say Chelsea have the most urgency, and as of now, they are one of the leading contenders for Alex Scott. Chelsea want to sign a midfielder in the winter market, and Scott is very high in their thinking.

"Bournemouth are hoping for £100million plus in terms of a fee, and they will know that Chelsea have got their £125million from Enzo Fernandez going to Manchester City.

"Now suitors I speak to at several clubs feel that Bournemouth will start at £100 million plus, but £80 million, £85 million in a winter market with Scott's contractual situation might still be relatively tough to turn down, so let's see whether that slightly lower number still provokes some engagement, but there's definitely a chance now to get Scott mid-season.

"Liverpool have the Andoni Iraola factor as well, so they're not to be discounted, but I sense Chelsea are going to be quite aggressive on Alex Scott in January, and don't rule out Arsenal as well, because they made an inquiry over the summer, and just because Bruno Guimaraes has arrived, it doesn't mean that Arsenal won't look for another midfielder in 2027."