Bristol City will have discussions over Sam Bell's short-term future ahead of the January transfer window after receiving five loan offers from EFL clubs.
The young Robins striker, 20, has yet to start for the senior side this season and has been limited to three substitute appearances in all competitions. He was out of the matchday squad for the first 17 league matches of the campaign.
Bell has been in prolific form for the Under-21s with 10 goals in his last 11 matches, including an impressive hat-trick against Category 1 academy Newcastle United earlier this month. Competition for places in the senior side has been strong this season with Nahki Wells, Tommy Conway, Antoine Semenyo, Andi Weimann and Chris Martin all ahead in the pecking order.
Two substitute appearances in the league in the last month offers evidence that his form for the youth side is being rewarded but a regular run in the first-team still seems unlikely. That is unless City receive a substantial offer for Semenyo during the winter window.
Brian Tinnion, City's Technical Director, told Bristol Live: "We've had lots of enquiries, we've probably had four or five league clubs that would take him on loan but again we'll have the conversations with Nige when we get closer to January to see where he is in the pecking order and if he's going to make an impact.
"If he is, then he'll stay in the building. If we think for his development it might be good for him to go and get some league games then we'll look at that but he's working really hard and playing and training really well so he's chomping at the bit to get the opportunity here.
"That's a discussion that we'll have to have as staff to get it right and ultimately if Nige, as he said with Tommy Conway in the summer, if he thinks he can impact us after January he'll stay in."
City considered sending Conway out on loan during pre-season but the youngster proved himself to be a valuable member of the senior side. He is the club's top scorer with nine goals in all competitions.
The club's faith in Bell was made clear in the summer when he signed a new deal until the summer of 2025. He's had three loan spells during his time with the academy with Clevedon Town, Yate Town and Grimsby Town but has yet to have a regular run of minutes in the football league.
He made four appearances in the first-team last season, albeit three of those came at right wing-back as Pearson eyed a solution for an ongoing problem throughout the campaign.
In October, Pearson was asked about the possibility of Bell breaking through to which he responded: "He will have to remain patient. He’s on fire at the minute.
"He’s had one of those starts to the first-team experience that’s not as positive as some other players have but he’s in a really good place now, his game’s developed enormously."
Meanwhile, City have been linked with a move for non-league striker Macaulay Langstaff, currently at Notts County. The 25-year-old is joint top scorer across England's four divisions alongside Erling Haaland with 18 league goals.
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