Liverpool 'certainly' keen on Alex Scott after £64m bid rejected

Bournemouth midfielder Alex Scott may not be quite ready to displace Declan Rice in the England team but he is being "closely watched" by Liverpool and other giants.

That is according to experienced former Everton, Aston Villa and Tottenham scout, Bryan King, speaking exclusively to Football Insider.

Gary Lineker was among those to claim that the Arsenal man could be under pressure from the 23-year-old in the international break, after he made his senior debut.

Scott is expected to be of serious interest next summer from the likes of Manchester United, Chelsea and Liverpool, after he entered the final two years of his contract.

The Blues had a £64million bid rejected in the summer for the midfielder, who is set for around two months on the sideline after suffering a muscle injury.

But Bournemouth will be well aware that failure to reach an agreement on a new deal with Scott will almost certainly leave them with no choice but to sell next summer.

Alex Scott 'has shown he can do it at international level'

Speaking on The Rest is Football Podcast this week, Lineker made the argument that Scott could well give Rice something to think about.

"Declan Rice has his strengths and is brilliant with his delivery and work-rate, but, wow, there's a calmness and control to Scott, he never gives the ball away and he's always scanning," the former England striker said.

"I was really impressed; what a very, very confident start to his England career. Does it give him a different option now and does it mean, perhaps, that Declan's place is not always assured?"

But those claims have come far too early, in the eyes of some. "He's come from Matt Le Tissier's island, hasn't he? Guernsey. That's where he was originally," King told Football Insider.

"If he turns out to be in the same calibre as Matt Le Tissier then [he'll have a good career]. He's certainly proven that he's going to be capable of it because he went from the Channel Islands, St. Martin, I think the team he was playing for, he went on trial at Bristol City.

"And, of course, Bournemouth paid £25m. Which is not a lot of money in today's market. He's really come on for his club at Bournemouth.

"He's shown that he can do it at an international level. They were talking about putting Rice under pressure, I think that's a bit premature.

"The boy has turned in a couple of good performances when he's been asked to play in the national football, and he's another one that shows that Bournemouth's recruitment has been very good.

"I would imagine Arsenal are looking at him. I would imagine Manchester City are looking at him, certainly Liverpool."

What did Thomas Tuchel say?

Rice missed the international break as part of his recovery from injury, allowing Scott the chance to feature.

The midfielder undoubtedly deserved his place regardless, however, and received praise from Thomas Tuchel.

"This is just the nature of it. We will not survive on two central midfielders. The more the better – and it’s always about the guys who are in camp," the German said when asked if Scott could put Rice's position under threat.

"Declan knows about his importance, and he’s one of the very best midfielders in Europe. Nothing will change that. But it’s exactly what we need. We need more, more, more, more variety.

"We need more, more, more options. Then it’s always about the guys who are in camp. Alex was in the highest level.”