Nigel Pearson has confirmed that Bristol City haven’t received any offers for Antoine Semenyo or Alex Scott and has questioned claims the latter is available for just £12 million.
The January transfer window is less than a week old yet City’s two prized assets have been the subject of intense transfer rumours, with reports in Ghana erroneously claiming that the Robins have rejected a bid from Bournemouth for Semenyo. Scott, meanwhile, has been linked with six Premier League clubs as a CBS Sports report stated he was valued by the Robins at £12m.
Both remain very much part of Pearson’s squad, should be involved in some capacity against Swansea City on Sunday and the situation has not changed from before the window, with the exception being that the manager has accepted the increased level of interest in Scott and Semenyo.
“There are a lot of stories out there and a lot of speculation and without adding fuel to speculation we are aware there is at the moment quite a bit of interest in some of our younger players,” Pearson said. “As it stands at the minute we have not received anything for them.”
The respective situations of the two players are slightly different in the sense that Semenyo only has 18 months remaining on his agreement at Ashton Gate so the next four weeks represent the last opportunity City have to truly maximise his value in the market, before it reaches a year in the summer and then starts to fall.
Scott, though, is under contract until 2025 so City are very much in a position of strength should it come to negotiating a price for the England Under-20 international. And the reported £12m figure sounds light, even when taking into consideration the Robins’ concerns around meeting the EFL’s Profit & Sustainability obligations.
For reference, 21-year-old Keane Lewis-Potter was sold by Hull City last summer to Brentford for £16m potentially rising to £20m, 21-year-old Nathan Collins left Burnley for Wolves for £20.5m and 22-year-old Djed Spence cost Tottenham Hotspur £20m to purchase from Middlesbrough.
“I wouldn’t accept £12m, but I don’t know what figure the club are thinking of,” Pearson added. “At this point I can’t really add to the speculation but most of it will be driven by agents and representatives, it’s just how it is.”
In the build-up to Christmas, Pearson claimed that whatever transfer business City would like to conduct this month isn’t necessarily based on securing a major sale, with a desire to potentially trade those whose contracts end this summer and explore the loan market.
There is an acceptance, as has been the case throughout his time at Ashton Gate, that he cannot add a new player until somebody leaves, whether raising transfer revenue or freeing up space in the wage bill.
Pearson has voiced concerns over the dynamics of trying to buy and sell players in what is a short period of time, in which clubs at both ends of the equation are able to take advantage of.
And, for the first time, the manager has admitted that even if he is provided with some money to spend by the sale of Scott and/or Semenyo, he will use it wisely and potentially remain patient until the summer, while also reiterating any offers that may be accepted will be done in the best interests of the club and nobody else.
“In terms of reinvesting money at this stage of the season we are very wary of doing that,” Pearson added. “What normally happens is clubs come in and think they are doing you a favour by taking the player and they want them on the cheapest deal, then you wanna go out and buy somebody and the prices are massive.
“It’s not a great window, it’s a short window and it’s not a great one to build in. If we get offers that the club feel are reasonable, acceptable and they help the longer term then the club will accept it.
“We want to keep our best players but we don’t want players who aren’t keen on staying here either. There is a counter argument with this and what is important for the players is, that there is interest or possible interest from other clubs, while they are here they are playing for us.
“They have an obligation to be at their best for us and that is difficult for youngsters. We’re talking about young men who are ambitious, they want to be successful here but players want to be successful.
“There has been some really good stories who have been developed here and have moved on to sometimes better things and sometimes there aren’t and the grass is not always greener.”
Of the 10 players out of contract this summer, City have declined to offer three new deals while Pearson has confirmed that midfielder Han-Noah Massengo wants to run his deal down and depart on a free transfer.
Although the identities of each individual within that trio remain a mystery for now, there is hope that they can be used as leverage in this window, potentially opening up the possibility of an exchange of players on expiring contracts.
Pearson has hinted that City are not the only club exploring such a strategy as Championship sides continue to bring their wage bill down while trying to remain competitive.
“I don't want to be pushing people out the door,” he said. “They've been informed and have the opportunity to seek an alternative but of course players are contracted to us and I just believe in being really upfront, or trying to be it doesn't always work, upfront with players. It's important to try and paint a realistic picture so I think It's in everybody's interest in that regard.
“It appears that many clubs are in similar situations so we're not alone in terms of us trying to generate some space. We still have to meet the FFP regulations so our plan is to continue to try and reduce the wage bill and still invigorate the squad with players who see their future here.”
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