Bristol City transfer request as Brighton make £25m star priority

A Premier League club has made Alex Scott a priority transfer target as Bristol City have outlined their instructions for the star.

BristolLive and talkSPORT report that Brighton & Hove Albion are ‘increasingly keen’ to sign Scott and have watched him over several months, with him being on their transfer shortlist.

Brighton and the Robins have conducted business before with the Seagulls taking Adam Webster to Sussex for a club record fee in 2019. City want a higher fee than what they got for Webster, with manager Nigel Pearson saying that ‘one hell of a bid’ would be need for the club to sell Scott.

The Seagulls are closing in on signing Joao Pedro from City’s Championship rivals Watford and could move on to Scott once a deal is secured for the Brazilian. No offer has yet been received by City for Scott, but with several Premier League clubs courting the ‘Guernsey Grealish’ it could be a case of sooner rather than later.

Scott recently won the Young Player of the Year award, and was named in the Team of the Season, beating off competition from £25m Manchester United starlet Amad Diallo and Middlesbrough’s Hayden Hackney. His recent recognition has only attracted more attention on to the leagues hottest property.

Brighton’s interest makes the most sense as they are all-but-assured survival in the Premier League and are on course for a top-half finish. The losing FA Cup semi finalists could still qualify for the Europa Conference League and a move to the Amex Stadium could be a good fit for Scott, who is apparently keen on joining a club where he will get game time.

A report from Football League World has suggested that City will want to loan back Scott if they are to sell him. They say that the Robins will try and include a loan back clause in any deal, though it could depend on who buys him.

Liverpool are reportedly interested and sent scouts to watch him in March, and given their plethora of young talent could be open to the idea. Newcastle United were linked and are on board, but for teams such as Bournemouth, Leicester City, West Ham and Wolves, they may want to blood him in straight away.

Scott is a boyhood Tottenham Hotspur fan too and they are one of the suitors but the North London club have more pressing matters ahead. They are unsure on who to appoint to replace Antonio Conte, and may put any transfer plans on hold.