BRISTOL City have launched a shock £3million bid for Wanderers striker Zach Clough.

Steve Cotterill’s side have floored the Whites with a big money offer but have yet to convince the 20-year-old that it is the right move for him.

Clough – whose senior debut came in the third round of last year’s FA Cup – was left behind in Manchester to consider his future.

And Neil Lennon’s options were reduced further as Mark Davies closed in on a £750,000 move to Sheffield Wednesday.

The Owls were hoping to get a deal done for the 27-year-old playmaker in time for him to feature in their FA Cup clash with Fulham.

Wanderers had turned down a bid of £500,000 earlier in the week, which is believed to have been made by Middlesbrough, but will save more than £1million a year by shedding his salary from the books.

Finances will also come into play with the Clough deal, despite the academy graduate giving no indication that he wants to quit the Macron.

The club must pay a tax bill of more than £2m by January 18, plus salaries for staff and players by the end of the month, or alternatively find the cash to enter administration.

The board’s financial advisor Trevor Birch had warned last week that player sales could become a reality for Lennon, whose side face non-league Eastleigh at the Silverlake Stadium this afternoon.

Davies, who was the longest-serving player on Bolton’s books having signed from Wolves in January 2009, made just 183 appearances during that time because of a string of long-term knee injuries.

Talks continue with a number of interested parties, including consortia from America and India who appear to both have links to Isle of Man businessman Dennis Rogers and an offer funded by money from South Korea.

The Sports Shield consortium, fronted by ex-Whites striker Dean Holdsworth, remains in contention, while another local-based group have also been in talks.

None, as yet, have met completely with the demands of outgoing owner Eddie Davies although the time for negotiation is now running out.

Administration remains a strong possibility if the situation is not resolved well in advance of the January 18 hearing at the High Court.