Chelsea target Alex Scott and Lamine Camara as Bournemouth resist January move

LONDON — Chelsea have identified Bournemouth midfielder Alex Scott and Monaco international Lamine Camara as top recruitment options as the club assesses its plans for the January transfer window. Co-sporting directors Paul Winstanley and Laurence Stewart are building long-term transfer plans for head coach Enzo Maresca.

A proposed £47 million move for Camara, 20, collapsed on transfer deadline day at the end of the previous window. Chelsea continue to monitor the Senegalese international, who has featured prominently for Monaco in Ligue 1 and UEFA Champions League fixtures under head coach Adi Hütter.

Monaco signed Camara from Metz in July 2024 for a reported €15 million after he won the Confederation of African Football Young Player of the Year award in 2023. Monaco’s strong position in Ligue 1, along with interest from Liverpool and other European clubs, presents competing factors if Chelsea re-open formal talks in January.

Bournemouth have signaled they do not want to part with Scott mid-season, maintaining a position similar to the one they took when approached during the summer window. The midfielder is under contract at Vitality Stadium through June 2028 and has no active release clause, giving Bournemouth significant leverage in any prospective negotiations.

Scott joined Bournemouth from Bristol City in August 2023 for a fee reaching £25 million, after being named EFL Young Player of the Season. He also won the 2022 UEFA European Under-19 Championship with England. Under manager Andoni Iraola, he has become a regular starter in central midfield alongside Ryan Christie and Lewis Cook.

Bournemouth’s approach to transfers has been demonstrated in recent windows by the club’s executive leadership, led by owner Bill Foley and chief executive Neill Blake. Forward Antoine Semenyo left after a £65 million release clause was activated; the club has otherwise maintained high financial thresholds for starters who do not have buyout clauses.

Chelsea’s interest in central midfielders fits the recruitment model established by co-owners Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital after taking ownership in May 2022, with a heavy focus on signing players under 25.

Maresca’s current options include Moisés Caicedo, signed from Brighton & Hove Albion for a British-record £115 million in August 2023, and Enzo Fernández, acquired from Benfica for £106.8 million in January 2023. Romeo Lavia joined from Southampton for £58 million, while Kieran Dewsbury-Hall arrived from Leicester City for £30 million.

Any mid-season spending will be assessed against Premier League Profitability and Sustainability Rules and UEFA Financial Fair Play regulations. Premier League rules limit clubs to maximum allowable losses of £105 million over a rolling three-year monitoring period, subject to statutory deductions for infrastructure, academy development and women’s football operations.