Bristol City take on Cardiff in race to sign Clarkson

Bristol City could face strong competition from Championship rivals Cardiff City for Motherwell striker David Clarkson.

Although the Robins have made no official comment, the Post can confirm City have submitted a bid in the region of £600,000 for the 23-year-old Scotland international.

That follows a £500,000 offer from the Bluebirds for Clarkson earlier this month.

Cardiff may be able to outbid City as they have completed the £5 million sale of defender Roger Johnson to Birmingham City.

However, Bristol City are hoping to follow Cardiff's lead and unearth a Scottish goalscorer in the mould of Ninian Park favourite Ross McCormack.

The former Rangers man made the move from Motherwell to the Championship this time last year and netted 23 goals in his debut season.

While McCormack was available for £120,000 in compensation as he was out of contract, Clarkson will cost more than £500,000 as he has a year left on his Fir Park deal.

Motherwell are considering City's offer and some sources suggest it has been provisionally accepted, although neither party was prepared to confirm that last night. Even if that proves to be the case, another club could still match that offer and then hold talks with the player.

Motherwell are currently managerless and are anxious to avoid losing Clarkson for a relative pittance in 12 months' time.

The 23-year-old scored on his debut for Scotland against the Czech Republic in May 2008 and has since won one further cap.

He scored 13 goals for Motherwell in the 2007–08 season, during which his uncle, Phil O'Donnell, died from heart failure during a match against Dundee United.

Clarkson was later voted player of the year, partly due to the way in which he conducted himself in light of the tragedy.

Last season he scored 14 times in 39 appearances and City will hope he is more successful than their last Scottish striker, Lee Miller, who failed to make the grade after joining from Falkirk.

In fairness, Miller was three years younger than Clarkson when he joined Danny Wilson's side and he had never played in the Scottish Premier League.

Just nine goals in 56 appearances led to a return north of the border to Dundee United after just two seasons at Ashton Gate.

City tried for another Scottish frontman two years ago, but were beaten to Steven Naismith, then with Kilmarnock, by Rangers.

The Robins are yet to make a summer signing and are short on strikers following the departures of Peter Styvar and Dele Adebola.