Arsenal are actively stepping up their hunt for central midfield reinforcements, with sporting director Andrea Berta tracking Bournemouth‘s Alex Scott as a prime alternative to Bruno Guimaraes.
The Gunners, who secured their first Premier League title in 22 years last month under Mikel Arteta, are determined to level up their squad to mount a successful title defence.
While an initial opening approach worth £55m was submitted for Guimaraes earlier this week, Newcastle United have refused to budge on their valuation, pointing directly to the player’s hefty £100m release clause.
This financial stalemate has forced the north London club to look elsewhere, with Bournemouth placing a more realistic £60m price tag on Scott.
The 22-year-old English midfielder has earned immense praise for his technical composure on the south coast, making him an incredibly attractive proposition for the reigning champions.
Arsenal are also understood to be monitoring Newcastle’s Sandro Tonali, though they face stiff competition from Tottenham Hotspur.
Arteta is keen to wrap up his primary transfer business before the squad reports back for pre-season training in July, and Scott’s domestic pedigree lines up perfectly with the club’s long-term recruitment philosophy.