Revealed: The full Reuben McAllister to Hibernian fee as Bristol City cash in on young talent

Bristol City have suffered a blow in losing a key talent from their youth ranks but the Robins will benefit from a good transfer fee collected.

Senior figures at the West Country club are annoyed to lose 16-year-old prospect Reuben McAllister who has risen through the academy ranks but is now set to seal a move to Hibernian where the midfielder will link up with his father Jamie.

But those feelings will be tempered by the possible earnings from the full transfer deal and if Nigel Pearson’s side continue to go through this window without any other significant outgoings.

BristolWorld understands that the actual figure for McAllister is closer to £250,000 initially and rising up to £500,000 if all clauses are met in the deal, rather than the figure of €130,000 (£110,000) reported at the weekend.

Those clauses would likely include future national representation and that may not be outlandish, as the player has been on the Scotland national side radar at multiple youth levels for some time.

Sources in Scotland suggest that the compensation for the player is a more than fair outcome for Bristol City.

And the South West team also routinely insert sell-on clauses in their deals meaning that the club will benefit from any possible transfer in the future, too.

McAllister, who featured for the Under-23 side at the age of just 15, has been on a two-year scholarship at Ashton Gate. However, a move to Scotland is largely down to family reasons as the youngster looks set to join up with former City head coach Lee Johnson and assistant Jamie McAllister.

“It’s probably going to happen but it’s not definite, it’s not done. We wouldn’t have had the opportunity had Jamie [McAllister] and myself not been here,” Johnson told the Edinburgh Evening News at the weekend.

“We believe it’s the best pathway for him. He’s a top young player but at the same time we’ve got a lot of respect for Bristol City – it’s a family thing, we’re not raiding them for their best players.”

The move north, on a three-year contract, is expected to go through imminently although official confirmation may not be given by the clubs.

Bristol City made no mention when young winger Shaun Wade transferred to Chelsea during last season, or previously when fellow youth player Fraser Harper joined Wolves.

Those two deals brought in similar money for the Bristol City academy as McAllister is set to add, and the latest sum comes at a handy time for Bristol City, given their financial outlook and under pressure to abide by profitablity and sustainability EFL rules.

But Bristol City are highly likely to retain the services of academy starlet Antoine Semenyo this summer, with an injury meaning that the striker is unlikely to be fit until August, and deterring suitors.

And the club will hope too that major interest does not appear for England U19 Euros winner and rising star Alex Scott, who is just two years older than McAllister and has played a full season at Championship level.

Meanwhile League Two Salford City have an interest in Bristol City defender Ryley Towler. The 20-year-old Bristolian is available for loan, although a possible temporary switch is on hold until the Robins can recruit another defender themselves.

With centre-back Robbie Cundy having departed BS3 at the end of his contract, Nigel Pearson still wishes to reinforce in defence, while senior defender Tomas Kalas has just a year left on his current contract and his future remains uncertain.