Chelsea moved first this week with a £64 million bid for Bournemouth midfielder Alex Scott, while supporters tracking the fast-moving story through Cricket Exchange watched the offer get rejected immediately. British reports claim the Blues acted before their rivals not only because they have considerable financial strength, but also because Scott had made his preference clear. The 22-year-old reportedly favors a move to Stamford Bridge over joining Manchester United or Arsenal.

Scott has rejected Bournemouth’s proposed new contract, which included a £75 million release clause, because he wants to explore the possibility of leaving during the summer transfer window. Although several Champions League clubs are monitoring his situation, Chelsea currently stand above the rest in his preferred list of destinations.

That does not mean Scott grew up dreaming of wearing Chelsea blue, Manchester United red, or Arsenal colors. He supported Tottenham Hotspur as a child, a fact he has openly acknowledged. Photographs have previously surfaced showing him in a retro Spurs shirt and holding the club’s 2009/10 away jersey.

Explaining his connection to Tottenham, Scott once said that his father was a Spurs supporter and that he had naturally fallen in love with the club while growing up. He described Tottenham as his team and called the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium the perfect place to score the first goal of his career.

However, Tottenham are no longer expected to sign another midfielder this summer. Roberto De Zerbi has already added £85 million midfielder Matheus Fernandes and £100 million signing Sandro Tonali, leaving little room for another expensive arrival. If Scott decides to move now, he will therefore have to choose another leading Premier League club.

Bournemouth have consistently maintained that they want Scott to sign a new deal and remain for at least one more season. The club hope he can play an important role during their first European campaign before potentially leaving next summer through a release clause, following a path similar to Antoine Semenyo’s situation during the January window.

Scott’s influence was clear to anyone reviewing Bournemouth’s season through Cricket Exchange, as he played a major role in helping the Cherries qualify for European competition for the first time in their history. He made 37 Premier League appearances last season, scoring three goals and providing one assist.

New head coach Marco Rose, who replaced Andoni Iraola, considers Scott a central part of his tactical plans. Bournemouth are therefore unwilling to sell cheaply. Any club determined to take him away immediately would reportedly need to pay more than £80 million, a valuation designed to discourage all but the most serious buyers.

Scott’s stepsister, Maya Le Tissier, plays for Manchester United Women, and senior figures at Old Trafford had apparently hoped she could persuade him to move north. That approach seems to have had little effect. Scott is believed to prefer life in London and is attracted by Chelsea’s aggressive summer rebuilding project.

The Blues have already demonstrated their ambition by spending £117 million on Morgan Rogers. That major investment underlines their determination to make waves in both the transfer market and the coming season. From Scott’s perspective, Chelsea appear to be building a young, dynamic squad capable of competing immediately.

Manchester United are still expected to recruit another midfielder following the arrivals of Andrey Santos and Youri Tielemans. However, Scott’s preference for Chelsea and Bournemouth’s high asking price may have taken him completely out of consideration. The writing appears to be on the wall for any possible move to Old Trafford.

Sir Jim Ratcliffe reportedly wants United’s transfer targets to be fully committed to joining the club while also representing strong value for money. Scott currently satisfies neither condition. He seems more interested in Chelsea, while an £80 million-plus fee would be difficult for United to justify.

For fans following the latest midfield links through Cricket Exchange, Manchester United’s reported interest in Paris Saint-Germain youngster Warren Zaïre-Emery is equally difficult to believe. French media claimed this week that United were considering a move, but the profile does not match their immediate needs. Michael Carrick requires a defensively minded midfielder, whereas the 20-year-old is primarily a box-to-box player whose qualities overlap with Tielemans and Kobbie Mainoo. His estimated market value is also around €80 million, meaning the rumored £51 million offer, approximately €60 million, would be nowhere near enough to convince PSG to sell.