Former Bristol City captain Dan Bentley believes “absolutely phenomenal” Alex Scott is destined for the Premier League – and admits he’d welcome a reunion with the midfielder at Wolves.
Goalkeeper Bentley swapped the Championship for the Premier League when he departed Ashton Gate in the January transfer window, moving to Molineux after three-and-a-half years with the Robins.
Bentley witnessed first-hand Scott’s progress from academy talent in the Robins Under-21s through to making his first-team breakthrough at the start of the 2020/21 season and then becoming a proven and consistent Championship performer, all while remaining in his teens.
With 86 senior appearances and now a regular in the England Under-20 set-up, Scott has been the subject of significant top-flight interest for the last 12 months with a host of Premier League clubs scouting the versatile Guernsey midfielder, including Tottenham Hotspur, Bournemouth, Leicester City and Leeds United.
The Telegraph reported in January how Wolves baulked at City’s valuation in the winter window but could return in the summer with Nigel Pearson claiming the club’s prized asset is valued at more than £25million.
Speaking at a press conference with students from the University of Gloucestershire’s BA Sports Journalism course, Bentley confirmed he remains a huge admirer of the talented midfielder and would certainly welcome him at Molineux if Wolves did opt to step up any potential interest.
“I think if I was asked, I’d say get the chequebook out,” joked Bentley. “Obviously that’s not my decision, but I’ve got nothing but good things to say about Scotty.
“He’s an absolutely phenomenal player with the world at his feet, I’ve seen all the plaudits recently, he can go all the way and so he should because he’s a magnificent player.”
Scott’s qualities are known throughout the English football pyramid, with only further attention being directed towards the ‘Guernsey Grealish’, while he was namechecked by Pep Guardiola as “an unbelievable player.”
Bentley has continued to keep an eye on the Robins’ fortunes following the end of his fruitful stay at Ashton Gate, acknowledging his good relationship with goalkeeping coach Pat Mountain and a number of his ex-teammates as well.
“I watched the whole of Bristol City vs Hull City on Robins TV, I watched the Man City game, and I watched the game against Huddersfield, so I keep a close eye on the results. It’ll be the first result I look for outside of ours, of course,” he added.
“I’ve still got very close friends there, Tomas Kalas who has just unfortunately got an injury, but I’ve been speaking to him a lot about it and just making sure his spirits are high. Cam Pring I’m very close with as well and been speaking to him and he’s been playing fantastically well.
“Harvey Wiles-Richards is another one I’m very close with and trying to help and support and guide him as a senior figure which is what I was to him and someone for him to look up to.
“I didn’t want him to lose that figure, I know he’s got that in Max and other experienced players in the group. But when I left the club, I didn’t want to just up and leave and leave what I would call my responsibilities to my peers and people that I have a lot of respect for and people that I like and got on with.
“I left a very good coach in Pat Mountain, who I got on with very well and he knew my game inside and out. I have the utmost respect for Pat, we still chat, I get on very, very well with him and he helped me develop to no end in the time that I was at Bristol City.”
Bentley is still to make an appearance in the top-flight, having been named on the bench for Wolves’ eight Premier League matches since his arrival, but says he is working hard to earn his place between the posts.
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