‘Disappointed’ - Bristol City boss makes feelings clear as Alex Scott nears Bournemouth transfer

Nigel Pearson has revealed his disappointment that Bristol City are set to sell Alex Scott to Premier League side AFC Bournemouth.

The news broke as the Robins took to the field in their 5-1 win over Oxford United in the Carabao Cup that the 19-year-old would be sold to the Cherries, as per Ian Dennis.

It has been reported by various news outlets that he will move to Bournemouth for a fee of £20m, which is below the £25m fee that the club and Pearson had insisted on.

Pearson spoke for the first time since the new development and couldn’t hide the frustration of likely losing his star man. “I’ve been planning to keep him,” he said. “It’s nothing to do with me, it’s a club decision. I’m disappointed because we’ve got a better chance of being successful if we keep our best players.”

Scott missed City’s opening Championship fixture on Saturday with a knee injury, which began rumours among the Robins fanbase that a move away could be imminent.

Pearson continued: “I’ve got nothing to say really, the club has given him permission, so that’s that. I’ve got no comment... I couldn’t give you the details, I knew today and that's it. I'm not saying anymore.”

Should Scott complete the move, he will be the second player in eight months to have been involved in a big-money sale to Bournemouth, following Antoine Semenyo’s move to the Cherries in January.

The news of Scott’s probable departure adds to a bad 24 hours off the pitch for the club, after the news that Tommy Conway will be injured for the foreseeable future with a suspected hamstring injury.

In regard to whether City will look to bring in a striker to make up for Conway’s absence, or a midfielder to replace Scott, Pearson said: “It depends if the club make funds available. They will either tell me whether there is or there isn’t. I don’t need a meeting with people.”