Bristol City players return to pre-season training on Monday with their sights firmly locked on the start of the new campaign and competing higher up the Championship.
As the squad currently stands, there's no reason why the Robins can't notably improve on their 17th spot finish following the three new signings to come through the door this summer.
Kane Wilson plugs an important gap at right wing-back, Kal Naismith arrives on the back of a brilliant season for Luton in central defence and Mark Sykes will provide a greater attacking threat from midfield.
There's still transfer business to be concluded and Nigel Pearson won't be resting on his laurels anytime soon. One of those positions in need of attention is in centre midfield, particularly a player with defensive attributes.
The interest in Andy Rinomhota remain a positive and Bristol Live understands he is one of the players under consideration although it is unclear whether a contract has been offered to the Reading player.
The Royals have a deal on the table in their attempts to keep him at the club but he has yet to provide a response with Stoke also paying close attention.
Eitherway, Pearson will have a number of names on his transfer wishlist in his attempts to provide another layer of security in front of a defence that conceded 77 goals last season with the midfield carved apart far too easily at times.
Wilson's arrival will allow Alex Scott to feature in his favoured midfield position and compete with Joe Williams and Matty James for a starting role. But with Han-Noah Massengo presumably set to be sold if a suitable bid comes, Andy King's future unresolved and Williams' injury record, another player in a central position remains imperative.
Here we look at five options should Pearson need to look elsewhere.
Josh Laurent
A team-mate of Rinomhota at Reading, the midfielder is another player set to leave the Championship club at the end of the month. The Royals have reportedly offered him a new deal but is delaying signing an extension.
Other clubs are presumably paying close attention including Cardiff, according to Berkshire Live. Laurent and Rinomhota forged a solid partnership in the middle of the park over the last two seasons with the 27-year-old making 41 appearances across the season.
The year prior, Laurent won the club's Player of the Year in his first season at Reading following his arrival from Shrewsbury. He made an average of 1.8 tackles per game last season, which is the joint fifth-highest among City's players alongside James. Laurent also averaged 1.4 interceptions. Only Ayman Benarous would better that figure out of City's midfielders.
A look at his heatmap also highlights his responsibility in a Reading shirt last season, featuring heavily as a defensive midfielder.
Will Vaulks
The midfielder is leaving Cardiff on a free transfer at the end of the month and a number of Championship clubs are looking towards the 28-year-old, according to reports.
QPR, Stoke City, Huddersfield and Sheffield Wednesday have all apparently considered him although the Terriers are believed to have pulled out of the race. Vaulks, naturally a defensive midfielder, made 23 starts for the Bluebirds last season and another 13 as a substitute.
Most likely to be behind the likes of Scott, Williams and James in the pecking order, Vaulks could prove useful in a rotation policy, providing cover during a long and relentless Championship season. His wages will also be affordable.
Having spent the last three years with Cardiff, Vaulks wouldn't have to pack up and move sticks and would therefore be a tempting switch with Callum O'Dowda heading off in the opposite direction.
Ben Whiteman
The 25-year-old Preston midfielder joined the Championship club from Doncaster last summer for a fee of £1.6million and enjoyed a fine season with 42 league starts, scoring four and assisting four.
Predominantly a defensive midfielder, Whiteman would fit the bill in regards to the player that City have been lacking. He made an average of 2.1 tackles per game in the league, which is more than any other Robin midfielder and equal with Timm Klose.
The downside to Whiteman is that Preston will demand a fee for his signature with another two years left on his contract. Perhaps he would only be a realistic target should City raise funds through the sales of players such as Massengo or receive a cash windfall should Josh Brownhill leave Burnley for Newcastle.
Marlon Pack
Whether you're for or against Marlon Pack returning to City, he is one of the players under consideration as he prepares to leave Cardiff.
City fans will already know what Pack can offer and although possibly regarded as a backward step, Pack has the attributes that the club have been lacking due to the fact he can provide that defensive protection in front of the back four.
His relatively low wages and lack of transfer fee make sense and even on a short-term contract basis, he would arrive with plenty of Championship experience which would also be beneficial to the young players coming through the ranks such as Josh Owers and Dylan Kadji.
However, if City want a midfielder enforcer who can be relied on heavily over the course of a 46-game period, Pack may not entirely fit the bill. Question marks will be raised as to whether he still has the mobility to play in Pearson's counter-attacking system.
Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu
The 28-year-old celebrated his eight-year anniversary at the Hatters earlier in the season and almost crowned it with a famous promotion to the Premier League only to fall short in the play-offs against Huddersfield.
It was a remarkable season for Luton and Mpanzu played his part with 34 appearances throughout the course of the campaign. Pearson already spoke how Luton will find it difficult to keep hold of their key players with the Robins already pinching Naismith from under their noses.
Mpanzu is considered versatile across the midfield and his heatmap certainly shows he has the energy to get around the pitch. He made an average of 1.4 tackles per game last season and 1.1 interceptions. His contract expires at the end of this month although Transfermarkt suggests the club have the option to extend it for an extra 12 months.
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