I can understand why Liverpool are looking at alternatives to Alex Scott.
I’ve said before that I like the idea of Liverpool bringing Scott to Anfield. He is an energetic midfielder who knows the Premier League, and Andoni Iraola already knows him from their time together at Bournemouth.
But when you’re talking about a potential fee of more than £100 million, you have to ask whether there are better ways to spend that money.
And now another name has entered the conversation.
Felix Nmecha of Borussia Dortmund.
According to CaughtOffside, Liverpool are considering the Germany international as an alternative to Scott, with Bournemouth’s reported asking price making a deal for their midfielder difficult. Nmecha is valued at around €90 million (£76 million), although Dortmund are said to be reluctant to sell.
That is still a huge amount of money.
But it is considerably less than the £110m–£115m figure being discussed for Scott.
And if Liverpool are serious about strengthening their midfield, I think this is a story worth watching.
Why Liverpool are looking beyond Alex Scott
Scott is an appealing target, particularly because of his connection with Iraola.
The Liverpool manager knows what the midfielder can bring to a team, and a reunion at Anfield would make sense on paper.
The problem is the price.
Sky Sports reported on October 15 that Bournemouth could consider offers exceeding £80m with add-ons in January, provided their Premier League position makes a sale viable. Other reports have suggested a valuation closer to £100m or more.
Those figures leave Liverpool with a difficult decision.
Scott is a talented player, but spending more than £100m on one midfielder would be a major commitment, particularly when Liverpool have other areas of the squad to consider.
And that is where Nmecha becomes interesting.
What could Felix Nmecha offer Liverpool?
Nmecha is 26 and has experience in both English and German football.
He spent 12 years in Manchester City’s academy before moving to Wolfsburg and later joining Borussia Dortmund. He also made three senior appearances for City before leaving English football.
CaughtOffside reports that Liverpool’s recruitment staff regard him as an underrated option who could make an immediate impact under Iraola.
He is a different proposition from Scott, though, and that matters.
Scott is known for carrying the ball forward, driving through midfield and helping his team progress possession. Nmecha offers a different profile, with his physical presence and ability to compete for possession potentially appealing to Liverpool.
A recent comparison published by Sports Mole highlighted Nmecha’s work without the ball, while also questioning aspects of his possession game. The report noted that he has had fitness problems in recent seasons, so Liverpool would need to consider that carefully.
I wouldn’t automatically say Nmecha is the better player.
But if Liverpool want a midfielder who can bring a different balance to the team, I can see why he might be on their list.
The £76m question
Let’s not pretend £76m is cheap.
That is a serious investment in a 26-year-old, especially when the reported fee is not confirmed as an agreed price.
Dortmund are said to insist that Nmecha is not for sale. However, CaughtOffside reports that an offer around €90m could potentially open negotiations.
Liverpool would therefore still need to convince Dortmund to do business.
And there is another question: would Nmecha actually be the right fit?
Iraola needs midfielders who can handle the physical demands of the Premier League while helping Liverpool control matches. He also needs the right balance between winning the ball, progressing play and supporting the attackers.
Nmecha could offer some of those qualities, but Liverpool would have to be certain that his strengths fit the role they want him to perform.
Paying less than £115m doesn’t automatically make a transfer good business.
The player has to be right.
I’d still keep Scott in the conversation
I don’t want Liverpool to abandon the idea of signing Scott simply because another name has appeared.
There is a reason Iraola’s former Bournemouth midfielder is attracting serious interest. He understands the Premier League, has experience in English football and could potentially make the transition to Anfield more straightforward.
But Liverpool must have alternatives.
That is how a sensible recruitment strategy should work.
If Bournemouth demand a fee Liverpool consider excessive, the club should be prepared to move on rather than allowing one target to dictate the entire transfer budget.
Nmecha is one possibility. CaughtOffside also mentioned Monaco’s Lamine Camara as another alternative, suggesting Liverpool are considering different profiles rather than focusing on Scott alone.
That is encouraging, even if none of these links guarantees a January signing.
Liverpool need to get this decision right
For me, the important thing is not whether Liverpool sign Scott or Nmecha.
It is whether they bring in the midfielder who best suits Iraola’s plans.
Liverpool need more options in the middle of the pitch, and I would rather see them carefully assess several targets than spend an enormous fee simply because one player is available.
Scott would be an exciting addition.
Nmecha is an intriguing alternative.
But at £76m, the Dortmund midfielder would hardly represent a bargain, and his fitness record deserves attention before Liverpool consider committing that sort of money.
January is still some way off, so there is plenty of time for this story to change.
If Bournemouth’s valuation of Alex Scott really is pushing beyond £100m, Liverpool need a Plan B.
And Felix Nmecha could be one of the names they seriously consider.
The question is whether he is the right alternative — or whether Liverpool can find better value elsewhere.
Jamie (The Kopite View)
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