Situations change, financial outlooks alter, pandemics occasionally happen. But whereas in previous years, Bristol City have approached summer transfer windows with a desire for forward-based players, and established ones at that, or a time-honoured yearning for Barry Bannan, this season’s most wanted transfer among the Robins’ fanbase appears to be a League Two right-back on a free transfer.
On the face of it, it does say something about how expectations have transformed at Ashton Gate, from a play-off challenge being the baseline to something approaching Championship survival and signs of steady progression, but it also speaks of one of City’s position of need, a wider understanding of the lack of resources post-lockdown and, crucially, the talent of the man in question.
Kane Wilson was named League Two Player of the Season at the EFL Awards on Sunday, just over 24 hours after Forest Green Rovers secured their promotion to League One for the first time in their history with a 0-0 draw at Bristol Rovers.
Wilson has been a driving force for the Gloucestershire side, fundamental to Rob Edwards’ style and approach, with a focus on creativity from wing-back and the 22-year-old has marked his first full professional season with three goals and an impressive 13 assists - only Fulham’s Harry Wilson (16) and Sean McConville (14) of Accrington have more across England’s top four divisions.
Capable of impressive and penetrative acceleration and a real confidence in taking on players 1v1, possessing what appears an internal tractor beam drawing him towards opposition penalty areas, Wilson’s future is likely destined for a division higher than the one Forest Green will soon be preparing to debut in.
What makes the prospect of his arrival all the more exciting is the fact he is out of contract, which broadens not only his options considerably but also the competition, as signing the consensus best attacking full-back outside of the top two divisions for no fee, who at 22 should still be well short of his ceiling, should be an agreeable concept to a number of managers and sporting directors.
Bristol Live has learned that Nottingham Forest have watched Wilson a number of times in recent weeks, as he represents a like-for-like replacement for on loan Djed Spence who appears bound for the Premier League (albeit with Steve Cooper's side very much in the automatic promotion mix), and they will not be alone among Championship clubs who have made multiple trips to New Lawn in 2021/22.
Of course, there is also something of the phoney war with such observations because often scouts will feel compelled to watch a player, simply because their rivals are doing so; it’s a box that needs to be ticked and a backside that needs covering in the case an individual should fall through the net.
But, really, the identity of exactly who is watching him is immaterial because the numbers and performances almost compel a move further up the pyramid.
From City’s perspective, Nigel Pearson has indicated he could be in the market for a right-sided wing-back - he’s openly stated he doesn’t have any natural ones in the squad - and that area of the field has been a problem position, not just this season but many beforehand.
With Zak Vyner’s future unclear and Danny Simpson long departed, the two right-sided full-backs City started the campaign with have rapidly lost relevance, leaving George Tanner and Alex Scott who for all his impressive versatility and professionalism, should he remain a Robin for next season, it would be considerably more beneficial for the team to see him play consistently in a central midfield role.
To reference the point at the start of all this, City’s transfer priorities this summer lie almost exclusively at the defensive end with centre-backs, a defensive midfielder and a right-back understood to be desired. That could change, of course, should certain players be sold but, as it stands, the club have made it abundantly clear in their search for targets this summer that the rear end of the pitch will be focused on. It’s very much an open secret in recruitment circles.
Right-back isn’t the sexiest of positions and there are probably a number of more common sense and solid free agent options out there - Nathan Byrne, Tommy Smith and Andy Yiadom as very cursory examples - but Wilson cuts through that as a bona fide “exciting” signing given what he’s produced this season and what he could therefore theoretically become.
He certainly fits Richard Gould’s brief of being a young player with high potential from a relatively low investment and in simple geographic terms, it makes a lot of sense. City have watched Wilson, are more than aware of his attributes and what it could take to sign him.
How he fits into the squad dynamic is another matter altogether as Pearson already has a project player in Tanner who despite roughly half a campaign of Championship football, his development has been interrupted by two hamstring injuries and his manager has consistently tried to temper expectations as to when he returns to first-team action.
Hypothetically speaking, the concept of City going into next season with their first and second choice right-backs as being a pair of 22-year-olds seems optimistic and not really befitting of how Pearson wants to structure his squad.
Now, that’s not to completely rule out Wilson, because a third right-back could also be signed but given his small resource to draw from this summer, the need for centre-backs (plural) and a midfielder, you don’t really want to be pooling too much time and energy into recruiting more than one right-back.
Then again, if Tanner is a right-back being developed to potentially become a wing-back, Wilson is a different animal - a pure attacking wing-back, something City simply don’t have but could be a useful tool.
A talent like Wilson is also perhaps too good to miss and could be a situation where a player is signed as much because he’s available, as he may be the position and profile that is required.
There are concerns around Wilson and beyond the obvious red flag of making the step up from League Two to Championship as a starter, which undoubtedly takes time.
Plagued by inconsistencies this season, Pearson has cited some of the reasons being not just the fertile age of some of his regulars but the fact they are experiencing their first season of Championship football. Given the players that fit this status - Tanner, Rob Atkinson, Cam Pring, Alex Scott, Ayman Benarous - adding yet another as an anticipated starter does little to eradicate the problem, that is unless the rest of the field is packed with steadier pairs of hands. There’s also the fact that the aforementioned names will be a season down the line and therefore should find some aspects of that sporadically absent reliability.
Bristol Live has spoken to one scout, however, who has revealed doubt around Wilson’s physical capabilities, particularly on the defensive side. Not so much in terms of his strength but more a willingness to engage with that aspect of the game when out of possession.
It should be said that this is a trait that can potentially be coached into an individual in the right set-up. Likewise, it is only the opinion of one person.
It's also a natural trade-off because of what he offers in the final third and if there is a wing-back who is technically sound, athletic, an efficient dribbler and creator who is also a beast defensively, please pop his name in the comments below and/or email Pearson and Gould @bristolcity.co.uk.
That being said, Pearson likes a certain type and we know by now he does lean towards those who have a certifiable physical presence on both sides of the ball. “I like my defenders to defend” is up there with “I’m not bothered” and “we are where we are” in terms of his go-to lines this campaign.
There is also a question of system. Pearson has now been wedded to a back three for the majority of the season - as per Whoscored.com, City have started 27 games in a 3-5-2 or variation of, as opposed to 17 with a back four - but the manager has regularly stated his wish to eventually revert to a 4-3-3 and his current set-up is out of need, rather than desire.
Should that become an eventuality, having an orthodox wing-back like Wilson makes him, long-term, more of a squad option than a definite starter. Unless there is a belief he can adapt to a more definitive attacking or defensive role. But, equally, maybe that is the right environment for him to learn his craft at a higher level to which he has starred in.
This is all pure speculation and the reality is that outside of Wilson’s inner circle, nobody exactly knows where his future lies at this moment in time. That also includes Forest Green, albeit with the acceptance it would be a major surprise to see him part of their squad in League One.
Options will be plentiful - as a reference point, teammate Ebou Adams who could even possess a higher ceiling to Wilson is being courted by eight Championship clubs - and out of respect for his current employers, any discussions will be on ice until the campaign is completed.
But with all factors considered, as talented as he may be and as impressive a body of work he has built up over the last 44 matches, Wilson may not be the obvious perfect fit, you think he is, nor as attainable a target as is being envisaged.
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