"First start and what a start and what a performance," Thomas Tuchel said after Alex Scott made his first England start in the Nations League Group A3 fixture in Rijeka. He added: "He is just so smooth at the moment on the ball, his decision making is at the highest level. The complete package at the moment."
That came after Scott played 70 minutes in England's dominant win over Croatia. He has already posted a 6.98 rating across 2 England appearances, and a 6.83 rating in the Premier League for Bournemouth, which helps explain why Chelsea and Real Madrid have stayed in the picture.
Chelsea's pursuit and the wider market
Chelsea were unable to sign Scott in the summer after a £64million offer was rejected by Bournemouth. Reports have still described them as the most advanced suitor, while others say they are simply one of several clubs interested.
Real Madrid have watched Scott at least three times, including in Croatia on Saturday and against Real Sociedad in Spain last month. Bournemouth are also said to want an agreement on a new contract before the January transfer window opens, which would give them a stronger hand before the market moves again.
January will also bring a useful checkpoint on Scott's current deal, with one report saying he will have 18 months left at that point. If Tuchel's praise is any guide, the attention on Scott is only likely to grow between now and then.
Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 4 outlets. How we work →
