The summer transfer window doesn’t officially open until June 10 but Bristol City have already completed one deal with the arrival of Mark Sykes on a free transfer from Oxford United and manager Nigel Pearson is a man who likes to get business done early.
Unlike last summer Pearson hasn’t highlighted precisely how many players he would like to sign and in which positions but it’s clear the defensive end of the field will be a priority after a truly forgettable campaign in that department.
These next couple of weeks are absolutely crucial in the sense it’s usually when players make a definitive decision as to their plans and/or acceptance of a contract, allowing clubs to streamline their recruitment plans with greater confidence.
With that in mind, here is the latest transfer news concerning the Robins…
City to ‘press ahead with plans’ to sign Davies
Bristol City are to step up their interest in Derby County centre-back Curtis Davies, reports the Mirror’s James Nursey, as Chris Kirchner’s protracted takeover of the Rams continues to rumble on.
Davies is out of contract next month and Derby can’t extend his deal until Kirchner’s buyout of the club is concluded, with complications around the ownership of Pride Park causing fresh delays.
Having worked with Davies previously at Hull City - who also want to sign him - Robins manager Nigel Pearson would like to add the 37-year-old’s leadership, experience and aerial ability to his squad.
Davies played in all 46 Championship matches for the Rams and Pearson has previously noted he wants to sign “dominant” centre-backs following a campaign in which City were a soft touch defensively, with the second-worst goals against (77) record in the division.
Robins hold talks with towering Cobblers centre-back
Another towering centre-back City have their eyes on is Northampton Town’s Fraser Horsfall with the 25-year-old also out of contract next month and set to leave Sixfields following their failure to earn promotion out of League Two.
Bristol World report that City are leading the race for Horsfall and have held talks with the 6ft 3ins defender but he does have interest elsewhere in the EFL. Bristol Live has since learned that City met with Horsfall and his representatives earlier this month.
Horsfall has never played in the Championship but was among the outstanding defenders in the fourth tier last season, making 47 appearances as the Cobblers bowed out in the play-off semi-finals to Mansfield Town after they were pipped by Bristol Rovers to automatic promotion on the final day of the season.
What could attract Pearson to the former Kidderminster and Macclesfield defender is his heading ability with Horsfall scoring nine goals across the campaign as a constant and dangerous threat at set-pieces.
Former City youngster set for Football League return
Connor Lemonheigh-Evans was a regular member of Bristol City loan army after joining the club’s academy in his mid-teens but never making an appearance for the Robins before his release in 2020.
One of the Welsh midfielder’s regular destinations was Torquay United under Gary Johnson who then signed him on a permanent deal two years ago and he has since established himself as a consistent and classy performer for the Gulls in the National League.
The Sun’s Alan Nixon reports that Lemonheigh-Evans is now a target for newly-promoted Stockport County who are returning to the Football League for the first time in 11 years. The former Wales Under-21 international is also reportedly a target for Walsall.
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