The case against a £100m Scott deal

Bournemouth's Alex Scott has no shortage of admirers. Arsenal and Manchester United have both circled him previously, Chelsea had an offer knocked back in the summer, and now it has emerged that the Cherries would consider letting him go in January for somewhere in the region of £100m. The idea of a reunion with Andoni Iraola at Anfield has also been floated, given Scott spent last season playing every Premier League fixture but one under the current Reds manager, contributing three goals and an assist as Bournemouth finished sixth.

On paper, the story writes itself. In practice, former Liverpool forward Stan Collymore is not convinced it is the right move, and his reasoning is worth hearing out.

Why Collymore thinks Scott and Wirtz would clash

Collymore's argument is essentially one of positional overlap. "Alex Scott is an all-round midfielder and he is not as great at going back as Anderson, Wharton or Rice," he told Betarades.gr. "He can create chances and he is an all-round midfielder, but I don't think he is needed for Liverpool. I think his best position is in that Wirtz area and Liverpool doesn't need two players in the same area."

It is a fair point to raise. If Florian Wirtz is already occupying that creative, box-to-box space in the Liverpool midfield, spending close to £100m on a player who operates in near-identical territory would be a curious piece of squad building. Collymore is clear about what he thinks the club actually needs: "What Liverpool need is a hard working midfielder who can get the job done both ways. For me, Wharton would be better suited for that than Alex Scott."

The Wharton argument, caveats included

Crystal Palace's Adam Wharton is the name Collymore keeps coming back to, and he is not alone in linking the England international with a move to one of the big clubs. Manchester City and Manchester United have both been mentioned in connection with Wharton, who is contracted at Palace until 2029. Collymore draws comparisons with the kind of disciplined, technically capable midfielder who does the unglamorous work that lets everyone else express themselves. "You need to have a midfielder who has the discipline to sit in front of the back four but is good enough technically to pick the ball up and get the team playing," he said. "Adam Wharton has all the abilities to do that and I am surprised he is still at Crystal Palace."

That said, Collymore is not handing out a blank cheque of enthusiasm. He acknowledges that Wharton's form over the past 18 months has been inconsistent, and that Palace as a club have had their own turbulent spell. "His performances the last 18 months have been up and down. The club has been up and down as well," he admitted. His verdict lands at a measured "7/10 or 8/10 signing" rather than a must-have, but he adds: "He is a quality midfielder and Liverpool are looking at him for sure."

What Liverpool's January midfield window might look like

Whether Liverpool actually move in January remains to be seen. Wharton's contract length at Palace means there is no pressing need to sell, and any deal would require the club to be persuaded. The Scott conversation, meanwhile, hinges on whether anyone is willing to meet that reported £100m valuation in the winter window, which is its own significant question.

What Collymore's take does usefully frame is the kind of midfield profile Liverpool may be searching for: someone who covers ground, protects the defence, and does not duplicate what Wirtz already brings. If that is the brief, the January window could be more interesting than it first appeared.