Arsenal hold talks to sign £80m star ‘always a Spurs fan’

Arsenal have now held talks to sign Alex Scott, amid a fresh update on his future at AFC Bournemouth.

The Gunners are looking to sign a new midfielder this summer, and Graeme Souness has recently suggested that they may need to bring in a player who knows the ball better than Declan Rice.

The former Scotland player said: “Rice to me is limited. You hear people talk about Rice as a world-class footballer. I think he’s probably somewhere in the middle. There’s nothing I don’t like about his attitude to the game and his athleticism. There’s nothing not to like about his commitment from the first minute to the last.

“My criticism is: he doesn’t have enough of the ball on him. He talks about ‘look how he runs with the ball.’ As a central midfielder that’s what you shouldn’t do. The reason people run with the ball is because they don’t see the picture fast enough.”

To be honest, it may be unfair to judge the England player on the way he played in the World Cup, given the level of football he has played since the start of last season.

However, Scott could still be a strong option for Mikel Arteta, given the display he put in at the Emirates Stadium in April, recording a 91% pass rate, making one crucial pass, and scoring a late winner as his side won a surprise 2-1 victory.

At the age of 22, the youngster is still learning his craft, but he was a key player for the Cherries last season, making 37 Premier League appearances, scoring three goals and providing one assist.

Arsenal hold talks to sign Alex Scott

According to reporter Ben Jacobs, Arsenal, as well as Andrea Berta, have made inquiries about Scott’s deal this summer, and he has now turned down a contract extension at Bournemouth.

The Englishman’s current deal expires in 2028, but the Europa League side are still keen to cash in, and have put in a bid of £80m.

The Cherries are determined to keep the former Bristol City man even if he does not sign a new contract, but he is now attracting strong interest from other top Premier League clubs, with Manchester City and Manchester United also keen.

With Tottenham Hotspur having signed Sandro Tonali and Mateus Fernandes in big-money deals, a move to the N17 may not be on the cards this summer, but the Guernsey native admitted he is a fan, saying: “I’ve always been a Spurs fan.”

It remains to be seen whether Scott is willing to sign for his club’s youth rivals, and Arteta’s side have other options in mind, including Newcastle United star Bruno Guimaraes, who is keen on a move to the Emirates Stadium.