Alex Scott says his only focus remains on continuing his excellent form at Bristol City until the end of the season before assessing his options with a new contract on the table.
Owner Steve Lansdown revealed last month that the club have presented the 19-year-old a new deal in the wake of continued transfer interest from Premier League clubs. His current contract expires in the summer of 2025 but the club wants to extend his stay even though he is expected to be in high demand at the end of the season.
Such is Scott’s maturity both on and off the pitch, he has not allowed outside noise to affect his performances and is arguably enjoying his best form since breaking into the senior setup two years ago. Former general manager Richard Gould said City turned down “four or five” player offers in January and indicated that Scott was one of them.
Wolves were believed to have the most interest last month but balked at City’s £25m asking price, although a host of top-flight clubs are expected to start a bidding war at the end of the season, especially considering Scott’s recent run of performances.
His focus remains clear for now, however, and he says his contract and the speculation will be resolved by the end of the season. Speaking before Wigan, he said: “I think at the moment, I don’t really want to worry about it.
“As I said, the focus is completely on football and that’s the main thing for me. That’s all I really think about. When I go home, it’s about thinking before the next game, the only thing on my mind in this Now is playing for this club. All the talk about the contract and all that, I’ll put it aside in the summer and then I’ll go from there.”
The way Scott has dealt with the pressures of maintaining his performance levels and the constant speculation about his future is to his credit, but also to the support network he has around him. Certain senior teammates play a part in that, but it’s also about family, even if she has to rein in his mother’s enthusiasm sometimes.
“Obviously it’s impossible to walk away from the talk,” he added. “I do my best, I don’t really read anything. I tell my mom to go away when she reads and I tell her to leave it alone.”
“That will just figure itself out no matter what. Obviously it’s important to have good people around, my dad is huge at it. He always talks to me and makes sure I don’t get ahead of myself and some of the older guys I’ve been through that for many years: Andi (Weimann), Kingy, who I talk to all the time and am very close with.
“Having the players here gathered with the family at home, it’s easy for me to ignore it and focus on my football.”
No one is under any illusions that the sky is the limit for Scott and, in 12 months, he could realistically be in the running for a series of games with a Premier League side. Leicester City, Everton, Brighton, Tottenham, Bournemouth and Leeds United have been linked at various times, and it is more likely that they will continue.
It won’t be long before Scott has to make a decision, but he’s also opened up to the possibility of playing abroad and following a path similar to Jude Bellingham’s. The former Birmingham City midfielder, who is the same age as Scott, moved to Borussia Dortmund when he was 17 in the summer of 2020.
For Scott, the England international has been a trailblazer for young British players looking to gain valuable first-team experience abroad and it’s something he would consider if the opportunity arose.
“Jude has almost set the bar for any young lad in England to go abroad,” Scott said. “I think another guy who was on our Euro team, Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, is also at Borussia Dortmund and moved there when he was young at 16.
“Seeing what they’re doing and what they’ve done playing abroad. I think it motivates a lot of young lads in England who are maybe on a similar path to them to not be afraid of leaving the family.”
“I think it’s becoming a lot more normal for England guys to go abroad and have their chance because obviously it’s hard to get a chance in the Premier League at a young age here.
“I think he (Bellingham) is obviously a huge inspiration to any youngster, especially me, who is a similar age, to see what he’s doing there for England is really unheard of and to see the talent he has is special.”
“He’s one for any lad young or old to take parts of his game and that’s something I definitely do and every time Dortmund plays, it’s him I look up and watch. It’s hard to move to a new country, isn’t it? No you know the language and you don’t know the players on a personal level.
“Just being in your comfort zone is the easy option. So if there’s an option to stay in England, I think that’s the one most guys take.”
“I think for me moving from Guernsey to here (at 16) was a leap, obviously it’s the same language and the same type of people, but I think that’s something I’ve taken for granted. I think if the opportunity arose abroad, it’s not something I’m afraid to do.
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