Bournemouth’s change of stance on Alex Scott has opened up the possibility of the Chelsea target moving on in the January transfer window.

Scott has no shortage of admirers across the Premier League, with Chelsea still interested after failing to sign Lamine Camara as a replacement for Enzo Fernandez at the 11th hour on Deadline Day in the summer.

Scott’s future is a complex situation. Here, explains everything we know at this crucial stage of the saga.

Eventually, yes, they will. It is more a matter of when than if.

The 23-year-old midfielder is currently sidelined for just over a month after he aggravated a thigh injury he had carried into the recent international break.

Bournemouth were disappointed that he was handed a start by England in the 7-0 win over Croatia in the Nations League.

During his time out, fresh discussions have taken place but there has been no breakthrough in the latest round of talks between the player’s representatives and Bournemouth. He has rejected past offers of a new contract.

Scott is still on the same deal he signed when he first joined Bournemouth from Bristol City for £25million in 2023. That expires in June 2028 and Bournemouth are aware there is only a finite amount of time in which they can properly cash in.

The most significant development this week is that Bournemouth have changed their stance and are now open to selling Scott in January. Previously, they had put a blanket refusal on considering his sale - a stance which remained constant throughout the summer.

But while the Cherries are now willing to consider Scott’s departure, it is only under specific conditions.

understands that Bournemouth are open to selling their prized midfielder in January if an offer worth more than £100m comes in. A significant bid slightly below that figure would also be seriously considered.

It is serious. Chelsea made multiple offers to sign Scott in the summer, one of which was worth £64m, but Bournemouth were steadfast in their refusal.

Chelsea remain interested in adding a midfielder to their squad after Fernandez’s £125m sale to Manchester City and are staying alert to the market ahead of January.

They were dashed at the last when Monaco pulled out of a written agreement via email to sell Camara on Deadline Day in September, just minutes before the window shut.

Despite Chelsea sources insisting at the time that Reece James’s move into midfield means they feel they have enough options there, Chelsea are known to remain keen on adding a midfielder and it is their number one transfer priority. Scott is particularly admired at Stamford Bridge.

‘Big-six’ clubs were told a blanket no this summer. As well as Chelsea, all the other big-six clubs were interested in Scott to varying degrees.

However, Tottenham went on to sign Sandro Tonali and Mateus Fernandes, Manchester City signed Elliot Anderson, Ayyoub Bouaddi and Fernandez, and Manchester United recruited Youri Tielemans, Andrey Santos and Carlos Baleba.

Liverpool held serious interest in Scott in the summer and could yet come back in, as they are still looking to add to their midfield. There are many industry insiders who view Chelsea as the frontrunners to land him.

The England international born in Guernsey is in high demand, and sources have made it rather clear that Bournemouth would very much welcome a bidding war in January, ensuring they maximise the profit they can make on the talented midfielder.

Bournemouth sources say a sale will only happen in January if Premier League survival is looking likely. They are currently winless and 18th in the table under new head coach Marco Rose after falling to a 5-1 defeat to Chelsea on Saturday.

Andoni Iraola, the Liverpool manager who left Bournemouth this summer, has a good relationship with Scott, who has previously called him “amazing”.

Scott said of Iraola this summer: “I feel like I have had his trust.”

Some believe it is Iraola who is pushing Liverpool to reignite their interest in January. It is viewed as likely that Chelsea will make their interest known once more in the same window.

The player himself is fully aware of the level of interest there is in his services. His sale would pocket Bristol City a sell-on fee.