City have opened talks with Bournemouth over Alex Scott, according to Italian journalist Nicolò Schira, marking an apparent step up from the interest first reported earlier in the summer.
City were among several clubs credited with monitoring the 22-year-old back in July, alongside Manchester United, Arsenal, Chelsea and Tottenham, but Schira’s report suggests contact has now moved beyond background checks.
Bournemouth’s position throughout the window has been consistent: Scott is not for sale.
The Cherries value him at around £80m and have been working on a new long-term contract, reportedly including a release clause in the £60m-£75m range, to head off exactly this kind of interest.
His current deal runs to 2028, giving Bournemouth no pressure to sell purely on contract length.
Should the reported contact firm up into anything concrete, City would be entering a crowded field.
United have been described as “frontrunners” at various points this summer after Scott turned down Bournemouth’s renewal offer, while Arsenal have also been credited with a serious look.
Enzo Maresca’s midfield has already undergone significant turnover, with Bernardo Silva’s exit to Real Madrid and Rodri’s move to Barcelona both confirmed this week, leaving City short of options if further departures follow.
Worth treating Schira’s report with some caution until a second source corroborates the “talks opened” detail specifically — Bournemouth’s public stance hasn’t shifted, and no UK outlet has yet matched the claim.
For the fuller picture on City’s interest in Scott dating back to July, see our earlier coverage, and for all City’s ongoing midfield business, follow our summer transfer tracker.
