Bournemouth have drawn a clear line around three of their most valuable players. Reports from TEAMtalk and the Manchester Evening News say the club are determined to keep Alex Scott, Eli Junior Kroupi and Rayan, even with interest coming from Manchester United, Arsenal and Liverpool.

The reason Bournemouth feel they can dig in is obvious enough. They finished sixth in the Premier League with 56 points from 37 matches, which brought Europa League qualification and a stronger hand in talks than a club usually has when bigger sides come calling.

Why Scott is the toughest test

Scott is the clearest pressure point in the group. TEAMtalk says he remains under contract until 2028 and is valued at £60 million plus, which already tells you why he has become such a focus for rival clubs.

That valuation is backed up by his season output as well. Scott made 37 Premier League appearances and posted a 7.09 league rating, the sort of numbers that make it hard for Bournemouth to treat him like a player they can simply replace if an offer lands.

Kroupi is the other obvious reason this is not a routine summer reset. He scored 13 Premier League goals in his debut season, a return that explains why Bournemouth are resisting approaches rather than viewing him as another sellable asset.

Rayan is the piece that gives Bournemouth even more control. His contract runs to 2031, so any club looking at him has to deal with a long timeline, not a quick negotiation.

There is one point in the Bournemouth coverage that should be kept in view. Some reports frame their sixth-place finish as the club's first-ever European qualification, while others simply say it secured Europa League football. Either way, the football case is the same: Bournemouth are in a position to keep their best players and test how serious the interest really is.

The cleanest reading is that Scott will be the hardest to hold, Kroupi is the most eye-catching young breakout, and Rayan gives Bournemouth the most leverage on paper. For now, the club's stance is simple, they want to keep the trio, and the summer market will have to force the issue if anyone wants to change that.

Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 3 outlets. How we work →