Bristol City star tipped for ‘£100m’ transfer as owner warns West Ham, Wolves & Bournemouth

Peterborough United owner Darragh MacAnthony believes Bristol City are well within its rights to value Alex Scott at £25m.

Scott is one of the most in-demand players outside of the English top flight, but Premier League clubs are said to be put off by the high asking price placed on the 19-year-old. The talented teenager is approaching 100 appearances for the Robins and has earnt praise from the likes of Charlie Adam, Jack Grealish, and Pep Guardiola for his performances.

Both Wolves and AFC Bournemouth have had bids rejected for him this summer, with the former now forced to put their move for him on hold, because of worries over Financial Fair Play. Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham are also said to be admirers of Scott, though both have different transfer targets in mind, and he is lower down their shortlists.

MacAnthony, appearing on talkSPORT’s White and Jordan Programme, was discussing with Jim White and transfer journalist Alex Crook, the valuations of English players and if they were overpriced. Crook made Connor Gallagher’s proposed move to West Ham, and City’s Scott’s reported valuation as an example of inflated fees, but the Posh owner was in disagreement.

Discussing Scott and a £25m fee, he said: "Bargain, bargain. The difference is Alex Scott is probably on £6,000 a week. The boy in France is already on £12,000 to 15,000 a week. Start putting a contract together and start adding the money up and it’s not expensive when you compare it.

"The other thing is you’re having the rights of someone that is English. It’s a lot easier, it works well in the Premier League’s squad. Somebody that is under a certain age."

"I don’t buy into it, I hate that argument. Look at the Under-21 team that won that trophy. A majority of those players played in the EFL and came from the EFL. That’s where we want to go.

"My biggest bugbear is your beloved United where is all the money they’re going to spend this summer end up going? Italy and France.

"I think they used to, there was always this notion of this great gossip and rumour spread by the Premier League but I refuse to believe that. The player’s wages in League One and the Championship are on a lot less. Putting a package together it’s a lot cheaper.”

Crook then said: “I know that Premier League clubs believe that Alex Scott is overpriced," in which a received a strong and passionate response from MacAnthony, who has proved to be a strong negotiator for his football club.

The 47-year-old believes that Scott could match the once-English transfer record paid for Jack Grealish by Manchester City back in August 2021, which was £100m. Declan Rice is now the most expensive English player, having been bought by Arsenal from West Ham for £105m, and the player dubbed the Guernsey Grealish could join that illustrative nine-figure fee club.

MacAnthony said: "At the end of the day, it’s not their right to say that, it’s Bristol City’s right to ask what they want. They’re owned by one of the wealthiest men in England. He’s a wonderful young talent, Jack Grealish is worth £100m and Alex Scott could be worth that in six years’ time."