Chelsea v Jose Mourinho: The £100m battle now facing Clearlake as Real Madrid join race
Chelsea might have been linked with a whole host of defenders, but the priority in the January window remains the same: replacing Enzo Fernandez. It could see a battle with Jose Mourinho ensue.
The Blues’ leaky defence has caused Chelsea to start compiling a list of defensive targets with January just three months away. Abdukodir Khusanov, Raul Asencio, Alessandro Bastoni and others have been linked.
But the priority has to be bringing in a midfielder like Enzo Fernandez. The priority target is expected to be England star Alex Scott, who will have entered the last 18 months of his Bournemouth deal in January.
Real Madrid join race to sign Chelsea target Alex Scott
In the summer, Chelsea made a £64m bid for Scott. But it was met with a firm rejection; Bournemouth did not want to sell Scott for any price. Alan Shearer has since suggested Scott will become a £100m player.
Scott continues to be linked with Chelsea, and many see him as the ideal Fernandez replacement. Even if, Jamie Carragher thinks he could reunite with Andoni Iraola at Liverpool at some point in the next year.
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However, Real Madrid have now entered the race for Scott. Spanish reporter Latigo Serrano reports that Jose Mourinho and Madrid are also keen on Scott, and have been keeping tabs for Scott for some time.
On his YouTube channel, Serrano said: “What they told me yesterday at Real Madrid was: of course they’re keeping an eye on him, but they said to me, ‘Do you really think we’re the only ones who’ve noticed him?’
“‘Everyone knows he only has 18 months left on his contract, and Bournemouth have to sell him’, they also told me that when they signed Dean Huijsen in 2025, Scott came up in conversations,” Serrano said.
Real Madrid or Chelsea? Scott has a big decision to make
It won’t only be Madrid or Chelsea, either. The England midfielder will be on the list of plenty of clubs, both in the Premier League and abroad. He has the technical ability of a player able to play in Europe.
But if Scott has to pick between Madrid or Chelsea, it will be hard not to pick the former. The lure of Madrid is tempting for any player, and Scott would join Mourinho’s side when midfield quality is lacking.
However, at Chelsea, Scott would get the chance to start regularly. He would be the perfect partner for Moises Caicedo in the middle of the park. Scott has a big decision to make in the next six, or 12 months.
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