Middlesbrough and Sheffield United have no chance of beating Burnley in transfer race without promotion: Opinion | OneFootball

Burnley, Middlesbrough, and Sheffield United are the latest clubs to have joined the race for Bristol City rising star Alex Scott.

The 19-year-old has established himself as one of the most exciting young players in the Championship and a key figure in Nigel Pearson's side since the start of last season.

His eye-catching displays and sky-high potential have attracted interest from outside Ashton Gate - with Premier League clubs linked in January and likely to return for Scott this summer.

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The list of clubs interested in the 'Guernsey Grealish' appears to be growing by the day with Give Me Sport reporting that Tottenham, West Ham, Wolves, Brighton, Brentford, Crystal Palace, Everton, Leicester, and Newcastle United are all keen on the Robins prospect.

A £25 million price tag has been touted but there is said to be optimism in Bs3 that the fee could rise beyond £30 million when all is said and done.

It's not only Premier League clubs that are monitoring Scott either, with Give Me Sport's report outlining that Burnley, Boro, and the Blades are also in the hunt for the City teenager.

But one thing appears clear, neither the Teessiders nor United have any chance of signing Scott unless they're promoted to the top flight this summer.

The Clarets' Premier League return is all but wrapped up, with Vincent Kompany's side 13 points clear of the Blades in second place and 17 above Boro in third, but the race for second is wide open.

For either of the two sides battling it out for the final automatic promotion place to hold any chance of signing Scott this summer, they will have to be playing Premier League football next season.

The report from Give Me Sport outlines the sort of fee that will be required to prize him away from City and no Championship club will be able to afford that.

Even if they could, a second tier club is unlikely to be able to be able compete with some of the big clubs in the hunt - both financially and in terms of what they can offer in terms of his career and development.

The 19-year-old could complement Hayden Hackney and Dan Barlaser in the Boro midfield for years to come while he represents a good replacement for Sander Berge or long-term successor to the likes of John Fleck at Bramall Lane but neither club holds any chance of beating out Burnley and others to the signing of Scott unless they've won promotion to the Premier League.