Chelsea are considering signing two midfielders over the next two transfer windows, with Bournemouth’s Alex Scott still among their targets, according to football journalist Simon Phillips.
The reported plans come after Enzo Fernandez left for Manchester City at the end of the summer transfer window, leaving Chelsea little time to bring in a replacement.
Scott has emerged as a leading option for the January market, while Chelsea are also understood to admire Crystal Palace midfielder Adam Wharton. However, securing both players in one window could prove difficult given their importance to their current clubs.
Chelsea weighing midfield options for January
Phillips said Chelsea had been aware for some time that Reece James was likely to require surgery. He suggested that situation had influenced the club’s thinking over Alex Scott, Malo Gusto and their wider recruitment plans.
“Obviously Chelsea knew about Reece James for a while, and that he would likely need surgery. Hence all the noise around Alex Scott, keeping Malo Gusto (I’d guess), and actively still considering signing TWO new midfielders in the next two windows (my understanding),” Phillips wrote.
The report indicates that Scott may be part of a broader midfield strategy rather than Chelsea’s only intended addition. Wharton is another player the club reportedly likes, although the financial demands of signing two prominent targets could make that difficult.
Chelsea may also face competition for Scott, with Liverpool strongly linked with the Bournemouth midfielder. If Liverpool move first, Chelsea could turn their attention towards Wharton or other alternatives while still seeking to strengthen their midfield depth.
The club are therefore expected to remain active during the winter window, with the possibility of more than one midfield signing forming part of their plans.
