Wolves are submitting a £20 million-plus bid for Bristol City midfielder Alex Scott, as Julen Lopetegui makes a major push to capture the highly-rated England under-20 international.
Scott is a prime target for Lopetegui this summer and Wolves are ready to make a second improved offer which will be closer to the Championship club’s strict £25 million valuation.
Wolves had an opening proposal worth £18 million knocked back earlier this month but a new offer is imminent for one of English football’s brightest young talents, who was named the Championship’s Young Player of the Season.
Lopetegui, the Wolves head coach, is completely behind the pursuit of Scott and believes the teenager can have a significant impact in the Premier League.
Scott was previously on Wolves’s radar before Lopetegui’s appointment in November, but the Basque coach is understood to have been vastly impressed by his potential since taking a closer look.
Wolves do face serious competition, however, with Bournemouth already having a bid rejected last week.
West Ham have also been monitoring Scott’s situation, while other clubs could also come into the mix, but the prospect of regular first-team football in the top division could be the main pull towards a move to Wolves.
Lopetegui has raised over £80 million in player sales this summer, with the departures of players including Ruben Neves, Nathan Collins and Conor Coady, and is operating on a restricted budget.
There is still a requirement to bring in further money to eradicate any fears of future punishment for breaching Financial Fair Play regulations, following the club’s mammoth spend last season.
Players such as Raul Jimenez, Daniel Podence and Jonny Castro Otto could all make way this summer if acceptable offers are received.
Yet the push for Scott’s signature has the full support of Wolves owners Fosun and the second bid is expected in the next 48 hours.
Bristol City remain relaxed about the situation and are seeking a record sale which will come close to the £22 million received from Brighton for centre-back Adam Webster in August 2019.
Nigel Pearson, the City manager, has also been very clear that £25 million is the absolute minimum figure that the club should accept, after playing a key role in the 19-year-old’s development.
Scott earned the praise of Manchester City’s Pep Guardiola and £100 million forward Jack Grealish after the FA Cup tie between the two clubs in February this year.
Wolves begin their Premier League season away at Manchester United on August 14.
