Is there any way to determine the talent level of a player on the transfer list? Is that what a scout report does?

Sling wrote: Is there any way to determine the talent level of a player on the transfer list? Is that what a scout report does?

Yes, that's the most important bit of information the scout report gives you that you can't see already. Of less importance is position ratings for all other positions.
As mentioned above, you can also ask the seller, they might tell you, they might not. It might be accurate, it might not. But since you only have five scouts per week (training period to training period), sometimes it's better to ask and hope.