Nigel Pearson has revealed that Bristol City tried to sign Reda Khadra on loan this summer from Brighton & Hove Albion but the player’s agent directed him to Sheffield United instead.
Khadra lined up for the Blades at Ashton Gate on Tuesday night for his fourth Championship start of the campaign since signing on a season-long loan from Premier League Brighton.
He was stationed on the right-hand side of a front three but was replaced by Paul Heckingbottom after just 34 minutes with the Sheffield United boss claiming he had got his shape all wrong and the Robins were dominating in midfield, but his decision was not a reflection of the the 21-year-old’s performance, reiterating the point several times following the 1-0 win in BS3.
It did, though, continue what has been a disappointing start to Khadra’s time at the Blades, with the Germany under-21 international coming under fire from supporters. But, without much prompting, Pearson confessed that City had been in talks with the forward over a temporary move to Ashton Gate, while also choosing to contradict Heckingbottom’s explanation of his decision to substitute him so early.
“I think that’s more because the player he took off has been a huge disappointment,” Pearson said. “I think it’s more to do with them thinking, ‘any chance of him running around?’ I think it was quite a brave decision to hook him off. But he was a player we tried to get in the summer.
“We know he’s high maintenance, a difficult character, but he’s a very talented boy and we were very interested in taking him but his agent, or whoever it was, decided that he (should) go to Sheffield United. I bet he wishes he should have come to us.”
Khadra signed for Sheffield United in July having spent last season on loan at Blackburn Rovers where he scored four goals and added two assists in 27 appearances. City weren't the only other club interested in bringing in the 21-year-old with plenty of rival Championship interest and from at least one club in the Bundesliga.
Pearson’s admission is an interesting one for two clear reasons. City haven’t made a loan signing across three transfer windows with the 59-year-old in charge, with Pearson citing the need to find value in the market and the inconsistencies and expense of that particular market.
He spoke at length during last week’s fans forum on the potential pitfalls of bringing in players temporarily from the top-flight while he’s also previously mentioned the culture at City wasn’t right to introduce such a signing.
In an interview this week with Sky Sports, Pearson also outlined one of the key building blocks to his success at Leicester City was signing a few “mavericks” in the final third, referencing Jamie Vardy, Riyad Mahrez and Anthony Knockaert. A profile of player he’s yet to bring to City.
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