West Ham United want to sign Bristol City star Alex Scott as loan-back clause emerges
West Ham United remain interested in Bristol City starlet Alex Scott but the Robins would potentially want a loan-back opportunity for the 2023/24 campaign, according to Football League World.
The English wonderkid has been heavily linked with a Premier League move over the past months, with The Sun revealing on 18 February that West Ham were reportedly battling it out for his signature with Crystal Palace.
Scott’s thrilling performances for Bristol City in the Sky Bet Championship have certainly got Premier League sides well alert to his talented services this summer, and the Hammers along with Wolves sent scouts to watch him recently for England Under-20s against France in the latest international break, [Daily Mail, 3 April].
And according to Football League World [28 April] West Ham United and Liverpool are among the two Premier League sides interested in Scott’s services, though Bristol City wish for him to continue his development at Ashton Gate in a loan-bak agreement for the 2023/24 campaign.
“It’s Football League World’s understanding that two of the Premier League clubs interested in signing Scott this summer are West Ham and Liverpool, who are looking ahead to the upcoming transfer window with an eye on evolving their squad and breathing new life into it.
“Sources have told Football League World that there’s an expectancy at Bristol City that there is going to be a lot of interest in Scott in the summer. However, the club hope that if a Premier League club do come in for the teenager that they may be able to negotiate a ‘loan back’ agreement that sees the England youth international return on a temporary basis”, the report reveals.
Won’t go for it
Considering the stark potential and current ability of the 19-year-old, it was only going to be a matter of time until Scott started luring the attention of Premier League clubs.
The teenager’s full array of talent was on display for all to see in Bristol City’s FA Cup defeat to Manchester City in February, and it seems like he is destined for the very top, with former Premier League goalkeeper Paul Robinson admitting recently that Scott is “more than ready” for English top-flight football.
Scott has earned rave reviews for his performances this season and has already featured at numerous England youth levels and could well look to be a Three Lions international in the near future if he continues on his sky-high trajectory.
West Ham United entering the fray for his signature is certainly appealing to the club bosses and fans and with the Hammers looking to dramatically evolve the playing squad for next season with many of their seasoned stars departing, Scott could well turn out to be the face of the Irons revolution.
This potentially means West Ham won’t go for the loan-back option which could deem their chances of signing Scott quite unlikely.
With Liverpool also interested and about to undergo a massive midfield rebuild of their own, they will almost certainly accept Bristol City’s conditions to loan back Scott so he can develop further rather than bleed dry on the bench like former Championship talent Fabio Carvalho has.
Nonetheless, the ball remains in Scott’s court.