Bristol City coach issues stance on Robins starlet amid interest from Everton, Southampton and West Ham

Bristol City may have a battle to keep Alex Scott this summer after recent interest from Everton, Southampton and West Ham United
Teenage sensation Alex Scott has become a first-team regular at Bristol City. (Photo by Alex Davidson/Getty Images)Teenage sensation Alex Scott has become a first-team regular at Bristol City. (Photo by Alex Davidson/Getty Images)
Teenage sensation Alex Scott has become a first-team regular at Bristol City. (Photo by Alex Davidson/Getty Images)

Bristol City assistant manager Curtis Fleming says he and Nigel Pearson are not entertaining the thought of losing star boy Alex Scott.

Scott has had a fine breakout season, featuring in 27 matches this season in various roles in the defence as a wing-back, as well as an attacking midfielder, where he has bagged three goals this year.

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In the last week or so, there has been reported interest from Frank Lampard’s Everton and Southampton, as well as West Ham United with two of the clubs sending scouts to watch over him.

It’s a sign that he is no longer City’s best kept secret and that the footballing world is now coming to know one of the best young talents in the Championship.

Despite the rumours though, Nigel Pearson’s trusted lieutenant says that conversations over Scott potentially leaving don’t entertain the minds of the pair.

Curtis Fleming has given Alex Scott and other Robins youngsters some praise for their ability. (Photo by Jacques Feeney/Getty Images)Curtis Fleming has given Alex Scott and other Robins youngsters some praise for their ability. (Photo by Jacques Feeney/Getty Images)
Curtis Fleming has given Alex Scott and other Robins youngsters some praise for their ability. (Photo by Jacques Feeney/Getty Images)

“It’s something we don’t have to think about, at the moment he is our player,” said a confident Fleming.

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“The reality of football is if someone comes in and says I’ll give you £100m, we’d go alright then we might have to take that, but also if someone comes in and offers £400k you’d respond, are you winding me up?

“Nothing is going to happen here. We’re not thinking about him going, we haven’t even had it in the back of our mind.

“We don’t sit there shaking and thinking the phone is going to ring and someone is going to come and take him. We really believe that they are going to be here and the way that the club is forming, the plan and the pathway, young players are involved in that.

“At the moment, we’re not thinking of him going anywhere, we’re looking forward to the last 12 games and then seeing how good they are next season. There will be more expectations on them next season.”

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Scott joined on a pre-contract agreement back in December 2019 having played senior football for Guernsey in the lower levels of English football. He then made the link up with the academy before putting pen to paper on a professional deal in March 2021 and just a month later, made an outing in the Championship.

Nicknamed ‘The Guernsey Grealish’ the midfielder is part of a core young group which contains the likes of 20-year-old Antoine Semenyo, 18-year-old Ayman Benarous, as well as 20-year-old Han-Noah Massengo, in what is one of the youngest teams in the Championship.

There is an obvious pathway at Bristol City with the Robins turning to youth to shape the majority of the first-team with a blend of experience from the likes of Daniel Bentley, Tomas Kalas, Andreas Weimann and Chris Martin.

A move to a Premier League club could disrupt the progress Scott has made in what is almost his first year as a professionally contracted player.

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“Where is he going to play consistently well? asked Fleming. At the moment he’s still a young guy learning his trade.

“If a big club comes in and pays millions and millions of pounds for him, he’s not going to play. He’s not going to play because of the nature of the business. I’m not saying it’s a lack of ability but he would be going into a different environment where there are more expectations.

“At the moment with Antoine and all of our young players, I’m looking forward to working with them next season.

“They’ve got a long time left in their career, they don’t need to be rushing anything at this stage, they’re still learning the game.”

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“It’s great isn’t it that he’s grasped his chance and the best thing for me is he can play anywhere. He goes in and says okay and we’re not saying he’s the best at that or he’ll struggle but he’s saying thanks gaffer for putting the belief in me.

“Lucky for him he’s an intelligent young footballer and a good guy.”

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