Bristol City are in the race to sign in-demand defender Matt Clarke.
The Stoke Sentinel claim the Robins are one of a number of clubs interested in signing the Portsmouth centre-back, but competition for his signature is hotting up.
Premier League Brighton & Hove Albion are favourites to sign the 22-year-old but, along with the Robins, Stoke City, Leeds United, Hull City and Reading are all keeping tabs on the situation.
The Robins are keen on bringing in a defender this summer, with Tomas Kalas' future no closer to being resolved following his loan at Ashton Gate this season.
Yet any move for Clarke will cost - with some sites speculating he could go for up to £5m.
Pompey CEO Mark Catlin feels his club are left in a strong position with the amount of interest in Clarke.
He told the Portsmouth News: "If there’s a demand for any player and more than one entity wanting that it assists in driving the price up. We’re no different and will try to maximise that.
"If a player wants to leave and we think it will benefit the football club when talking to the manager and owners, we’ll action that.
"But that will only be at a level we believe to be right for the football club.
"In all aspects and every decision we take we put the football club first. It’s like a painting. What’s the value of a player? It’s not anything that’s comparable.
"With a painting what you ideally want is multiple bidders. Then it can become a self-perpetuating upward spiral at that point. That’s what you are looking for."
