Crystal Palace join Tottenham, West Ham in three-way battle for Championship wonderkid

Harry Watkinson 20 Feb 2023 7:38 PM

Crystal Palace are reportedly interested in signing Bristol City wonderkid Alex Scott but will face competition from Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham.

Patrick Vieira is looking to bring in a long-term replacement for club captain Luka Milivojevic, who turns 32 in two months.

The Eagles have enjoyed great success with young players such as Eberechi Eze and Michael Olise in recent years and now want Scott to join their ranks.

This is according to London World, who claim that Vieira’s side have made signing the 19-year-old one of their biggest summer priorities, with Palace keen to focus on bringing in young players.

Other reports have also linked Spurs and West Ham with the Bristol City golden boy, who looks set to depart the club in favour of a switch to the Premier League.

Since breaking into the first team last season, Scott has quickly become one of the Robins’ most important players.

Generally operating from a central, or attacking midfield role, the Englishman has made 31 Championship appearances for City this term, making five assists in the process.

Scott is also versatile, with the ability to play as a right midfielder on occasion, so he could cover multiple positions for Vieira if Palace can get a deal over the line.

Tottenham, West Ham firmly in Scott race

However, as mentioned, the Eagles are set to face competition from two London rivals for the wonderkid’s signature: Tottenham and West Ham.

Spurs have made some impressive signings this season, bringing in the likes of Richarlison, Cristian Romero and Pedro Porro, who are all relatively young players – under 25 years old.

With that in mind, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see Antonio Conte’s side go in for Scott in the summer, and Tottenham are definitely superior to their competitors in terms of financial pulling power.

However, after barely utilizing Djed Spence, who also made the move from the Championship to Spurs at the start of the current campaign, Scoot may look to move elsewhere.

As for West Ham, they seem to be resigned to losing club captain Declan Rice in the summer, so David Moyes will be looking to bring in players to bolster his midfield for next season.

Considering Scott’s sky-high potential, he could prove to be an excellent long-term investment for the Hammers.

Palace, though, will do everything they can that he heads to Selhurst Park, so we could be in for a three-way bidding war for the Bristol City star.

Scott’s current deal at the Ashton Gate Stadium is set to expire in 2025, so the Robins aren’t under any immediate pressure to sell. However, if they receive a lucrative offer, they may opt to let him leave.

According to Transfermarkt, Scott is valued at just £7m. But, with three Premier League clubs circling, you can expect his ultimate price tag to be much higher than that.

Alex Scott