There’s a new man in charge of Liverpool, and with it there will likely be some new faces on the field. As the summer transfer window nears, more names are being linked to a move to Merseyside. 

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Given the turnover we’ve already experienced among players, it sounds like Liverpool is focusing on its youth as Andoni Iraola takes on the biggest challenge of his managerial career.  His first new addition could be someone he’s seen plenty of on an up close and personal level.

Alex Scott fills a big hole in the Liverpool squad

For as successful as Iraola has been in the Premier League, he’s sure to be feeling a little out of his element in his new role. Not only will the expectations be higher with the Reds, but his man management and building rapport with new players will take time. As such, it makes sense that he’ll want some familiar faces to begin this new chapter of his career.

Alex Scott ticks’ numerous boxes for the new manager and the Reds. The 22-year-old is not a mega name on the transfer market, but one Iraola would be quite comfortable bringing over. 

Scott really came into his own in the previous Premier League campaign. He featured in 37 domestic fixtures and scored three goals. Scott was pivotal to Bournemouth earning a spot in Europe last season. He was Iraola’s Swiss Army knife operating as a number 10, eight and six at different points.

He not only scored timely goals for them but also excelled in his defensive contributions. He led the team, in fact, in defensive contributions per 90 last season at 12.2. He also wound up second in recoveries per 90 (6.1) for Bournemouth.

Overall, he is coming into his own, and the good news is that his best years are ahead of him.

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Liverpool must address the defensive midfield area

As fantastic as Alexis Mac Allister and Ryan Gravenberch were in their Premier League title-winning campaign, we saw a lot of flaws from both last season. Neither were strong enough at tracking back, leaving gaps between that area and the backline.

While Ibrahima Konaté and Virgil Van Dijk got the bulk of criticism for last season’s failure, they had little to no help from their midfielders. Both Mac Allister and Gravenberch lacked spatial awareness and provided next to no defensive cover. As poor as the backline was, the midfield needs to shoulder its share of the responsibility too.

Addressing that area needs to be a priority this summer. Transitional defensive play was a massive weakness for the Reds, and unless that is fixed, you can bet opposing teams will expose that again next season.

Alex Scott is an ideal addition for Liverpool 

Last summer, the focus for the Reds was on building an attacking juggernaut. While that led to plenty of exciting results early on, it only took them so far. The opposite approach should be the focus in the summer of 2026.

We saw last season how difficult it was for many of Liverpool’s big signings to adjust to their new surroundings. With a familiar face in Iraola, you’d think the addition of Scott would be different.

Scott also fits the mould of youth that the club seems to be emphasizing. He’s agile, can progress the ball well, and his versatility will be highly coveted in a long season where injuries are bound to happen. His defensive work rate and tactical awareness are terrific, and Liverpool need them consistently to be near the top of the league again.

It’s no surprise to learn Man United and Tottenham are among those interested in him despite the fact that he’s got two years remaining on his contract.

That said, you’d think his relationship with Iraola would give the Reds the inside track. At the same time, he might not fit as well with those competing with Liverpool to get him. In particular, the Red Devils might not be an ideal transition for Scott, as some are alluding to.

To acquire him, Liverpool are reportedly offering £40 million, though the Cherries are said to want at least £60 million. For what he can add, it’s an investment worth considering.