Chelsea reach verbal agreement with Scott

Chelsea are close to signing Alex Scott, a midfielder from AFC Bournemouth, after reaching a verbal agreement on personal terms with the player, according to "CaughtOffside".

The site reported that journalist Simon Phillips stated that the agreement with Scott, who is 23 years old, dates back to last summer, while Chelsea are targeting to finalize the deal with AFC Bournemouth as soon as possible.

Chelsea are looking to strengthen their midfield following Enzo Fernández's departure to Manchester City this summer, and Alex Scott is considered a suitable option to support the team in this position.

Chelsea face competition from Liverpool, who are also interested in signing the player. At the same time, they are considering bringing in Felix Nmecha from Borussia Dortmund as a cheaper option, given the likelihood of Alex Scott's transfer fee increasing.

Despite the competition, the report indicated that Chelsea are currently ahead in the race to sign the player, benefiting from their financial capacity after selling Fernández.

Chelsea hope that the signing of Alex Scott will improve their midfield performance and help the team achieve better results in the second half of the season, following a mixed start under the management of Xabi Alonso.