Arsenal join Scott chase – Thursday’s gossip

Arsenal have joined Chelsea and Liverpool in contacting Bournemouth about midfielder Alex Scott, adding to the competition for the 23-year-old England international. The transfer gossip also points to possible defensive moves at Manchester United and interest from Aston Villa in Chelsea midfielder Romeo Lavia.

Scott is under contract until summer 2028. United have added Brentford’s Nathan Collins and Fulham’s Calvin Bassey to a list that includes Everton’s Jarrad Branthwaite; Villa are considering Lavia, whom manager Unai Emery admires. Other reports say Arsenal’s Martin Zubimendi is happy in London, Brentford plan to reject Liverpool interest in El Hadji Malick Diouf, and several clubs are tracking Manchester City’s Rayan Ait-Nouri.