Bristol City continue to mull over how much of their transfer budget they wish to spend on Derby County’s Jason Knight, with Rams manager Paul Warne accepting the Republic of Ireland international is expected to leave Pride Park this summer.
As first reported by the Telegraph, City had two bids rejected last month with the second worth up to £1.6million with the League One club wanting a figure closer to £2m. Since those unsuccessful approaches, the Robins have bided their time over making a third offer, mindful Derby are trying to drive Knight’s price-tag up by inviting a bidding war.
Stoke City and Ipswich Town are the other Championship clubs interested in the 22-year-old but with the Tractor Boys having signed Jack Taylor from Peterborough United, the prospect of them signing also Knight appears unlikely.
City are thought to have been frontrunners throughout the process and have already held provisional talks with his representatives but to conclude the deal need to meet a price point deemed fair by the Rams, something which hasn’t been the case so far. Although with Warne admitting that Knight is unlikely to start the season in black and white, the indication is that an agreement could be close.
"I don't foresee him being here," Warne told Derbyshire Live. "That's the honest truth. I know there's a lot of clubs who have a massive interest in him, and he's got a year left on his contract.
"I've spoken to Knighty a couple of times. He isn't like knocking on my door to leave. But I am aware of interest from a couple of Championship clubs. I am aware of bids.
"I am aware of what the player has been offered. I am aware of everything. So the common sense of my brain is being honest - I can see Knighty leaving. I don't want him to leave from a football manager's point of view. Why would I? But I also, I've said all along, I don't want to have hostages here and he isn't that he's definitely not that, he's a great kid.
"He's trained really well this week. But I honestly think by the end of this summer it will happen, but it would only happen if our club agreed to another club's evaluation now, they might not.
"And if that's the case then he runs his contract out here. Great. The figure has to match the value we see in the player. And if that's the case and the ownership people above my head, regard that figure to be good enough and the player is happy with it, then we part company. It will be a sad day for me because I love Knighty."
Warne accepts it wouldn’t take a lot more to sign the Irishman, although City are working within a pre-arranged budget, drawn up in March, and with Nigel Pearson wanting to add at least another centre-back.
Should Derby continue to demand £2m for Knight, that jump of £400,000 could eat into money allocated for a central defender, although the structuring of any deal could be the most critical aspect of negotiations with the Robins looking to stagger payments over several seasons.
"I don't think the offers that we've had for him have been offensive and they're not way off,” Warne added. “I think it's probably the nicest way to put it, but probably not as strong as we would consider his value to be.
"But as always, the value of anything is in the purchase and not the seller. I could want to sell my house for 300 grand. But if I get three offers for 200 grand, I ain't getting 300 grand for it. So there's a bit of reality, but like I said, if what Knight's worth could be greater than his transfer fee. I think it would have to match what the club want for us to consider it."
Pearson has been at pains to emphasise that Knight, or any other new midfielders, are not being signed to replace Alex Scott and certainly, for now at least, the Robins won’t be furnished with any additional transfer funds due to the sale of the teenager.
City are remaining steadfast over their valuation of the 19-year-old with at least £25m required to sign the England Under-20 international. As reported by TalkSPORT, that figure has put Brighton & Hove Albion and Wolves off from making an approach this summer as the Premier League duo feel Scott is being overpriced.
That’s also understood to be a view shared by Bournemouth who made several enquiries in January and while the Cherries remain keen on the Robins midfielder, do not want to spend that volume of money on a player untested in top-flight football. That is a situation that could change, however, as the window develops.
From City's perspective, the opinions of Premier League clubs as to what Scott should be priced at remains irrelevant as, with two years left on his contract, they have the contract security to maintain a tough stance.
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