Bristol City star ‘definitely leaving’ as Wolves and Spurs told increased transfer price - reports

Bristol City have reportedly received transfer enquiries from eight clubs over the last year for star player Alex Scott, and that he will 'definitely' leave this summer, according to a CBS Sports reporter.

The 19-year-old is considered the best young player in the English Football League, after being crowned the Championship Young Player of the Year in April, and has been subject to much speculation. Scott, who is currently on a break, before the Robins return for pre-season, is a transfer target for many Premier League clubs, and is City's prized asset, given his age, his potential, and his experience in the game so far.

He is approaching 100 appearances for the club, with 91 appearances to date, where he has got six goals and seven assists, playing mainly as a centre midfielder, but also filling in at right-wing-back.

Ben Jacobs, a contributor for CBS Sports Golazo, has made several transfer claims about Scott, including Leicester City's interest, and now in his latest update, he says that eight Premier League teams are tracking him, though Liverpool aren't one of them, despite being scouted by him.

In a tweet, he said: "Bristol City’s Alex Scott one to watch this summer, as revealed in January. Eight EPL clubs tracked him last season. Bristol City want £25m. Keep an eye on Wolves and Spurs in particular. West Ham and Bournemouth looking as well. #LFC not in the race despite scouting Scott."

Appearing on the Last Word on Sports podcast, Jacobs added that Scott is ‘definitely’ leaving this summer, and predicts that the West Country club will not be able to hold on to him.

He said: “Alex Scott was a story that I broke about a year ago, and in January I revealed he would definitely go this summer and that is still my understanding that Bristol City will not be able to hang on to the player and they know that. There's believe it or not, eight different clubs that in the last year that have enquiried about Alex Scott. Tottenham are one of them. There is a realistic possibility that they move on a fantastic player who I think could in the future be very big and consistent in the Premier League.

“The fee they're asking for is around about £30-35m. I know in some places you'll see £25m. Bristol City want more than that, albeit it might be an all-in number. This isn't a £10, 12, 15m deal with a few add-ons, this is a £25, 30, 35m deal. It tells you what a big talent the player is. I would expect Tottenham to be in the race here, I also think Wolves are ones to watch.

“The good news from Tottenham's point of view is that Leeds United and Leicester were big on Scott. They've dropped out and it makes it a lot harder to do business. There's no real for Scott to leave Bristol City at 19 years of age where he is playing regularly and join another Championship club. What you get from Scott is high intelligence, positive passing, he's fit, he's fast, he's strong, he's mature for his age.

“He didn't really chip in with too many goals last season, if you look at the season before he scored four times and he was only 18 years of age then. I think that box-to-box and that ability to be in the right place at the right time, and to burst forward when asked of him, even when it's not a nature of his game, could be an area of development that is very solid, a big future ahead of him in the game.

“If you’re talking about Paratici (Tottenham’s managing dirrector), he’s 100% on Tottenham’s radar, they were one of the clubs. Wolves are going to push very hard as well, I think we can also be taking a look to an extent anyway at some clubs with European football. Brighton might be one to watch, I was going to say Aston Villa but their interested has cooled and they’ve signed Youri Tielemans on a free transfer. I don’t think they’ll strengthen in another way in the centre of the park at this stage.

“There is a lot of interest, and there is a very decent chance esculate that interest by approaching Bristol City between now and when the window shuts. People have noticed Scott likes Spurs, and also likes London, beyond the fact there’s no European football, there is a lot to like about a potential Tottenham move, so now we have to wait and see what happens. I’m hesistant to say they will definitely move because Paratici’s not there. If Paratici was still at the football club and we’re talking in January, I would have told you catagorically that Tottenham would be there this summer.”

Wolves, are said to hold the strongest interest, and now with fans told to 'keep an eye' on Spurs, that would be an interesting development. Scott is a boyhood Tottenham Hotspur fan, and a move to North London could represent a dream move for the Guernsey youngster. A valuation of £25m was suggested, but owner Steve Lansdown in an interview with BBC Radio Bristol in April, believes that could be higher should clubs be involved in a bidding war. As of yet no official bid has been lodged, as clubs seek cheaper alternatives to Scott, who's English nationality would help towards stringent homegrown quotas in the Premier League.

It was reported in January of Wolves' transfer interest, and they had a bid rejected, but so far no offers have come City's way for the England Under-20 international. Wolves are keen admirers of the player, but will apparently need to move players off of their books and get some transfer funds, if they are to make a move for him. Julen Lopetegui did admit publicly that the Midlands club may have to look to the Championship to strenghten his team in what could be a tough transfer window.

Scott remains unaffected by speculation however, and despite Jacobs claims that he is 'definitely leaving this summer', his recent comments about his future, both to the club, and whilst on international duty suggest that his position is different.

At the Player of the Year awards back in May, Scott said he was 'looking forward to next season', which hinted that he envisages seeing himself at Ashton Gate for the 2023/24 campaign. He backed up his comments, when interviewed whilst playing at the FIFA Under-20 World Cup, by admitting he'd like to play at a higher level in the future but for his family to avoid reading speculation, as 'it's not true'.

"Obviously, that’s a nice feeling to have, but for me, I just ignore it as much as possible,” he recently told SPORTbible. “I won’t read anything on Twitter and I’ve let family members know to not read anything you see because half the time, it’s not true.

“For me, it’s just about focusing on my football — then we’ll see what happens after that. I don’t want to put a specific time on when these things will play out. Of course, I’d like to play at the highest level one day.”