Stoke City are considering Bristol City club captain Dan Bentley as a loan signing this month with the goalkeeper entering the last six months of his contract at Ashton Gate, Bristol Live understands.
Bentley has fallen out of favour in Nigel Pearson's first-team plans this season with Max O'Leary starting the last 13 league matches. The City stopper was the club's No1 at the beginning of the campaign but lost his place in the side following the 3-0 defeat at Birmingham in October.
The 29-year-old hasn't seen a minute of action since with the manager opting for youngster Stefan Bajic in the Carabao Cup loss to Lincoln and O'Leary in the FA Cup third round draw with Swansea on Sunday.
Stoke manager Alex Neil needs to strengthen his goalkeeping department this month with Jack Bonham and Joe Bursik failing to hold down regular starting roles. Bentley's Championship experience, along with the uncertainty over his future at the club, make him an attractive target for the Potters.
City's Championship rivals are also keen on a loan move for Leicester City's Daniel Iversen, who played under Neil for Preston North End, but the Foxes will only release the Dane if they can bring in their own back-up to Danny Ward. That deadlock could see Stoke turn to Bentley who's more readily available in the market.
From City's perspective, although losing a player of Bentley's experience and presence isn't ideal, ultimately Pearson has to plan for the future and his departure would also free up some space in the wage bill with Stoke likely to pay a contribution towards his wages. The Robins manager indicated before Christmas that some of the individuals in the squad on expiring contracts could be moved on in January to freshen up the squad.
Towards the end of last season, Bentley suggested his representatives had begun talks over a potential contract extension but that deal has failed to materialise. In December, Pearson said around seven players had been offered new contracts on reduced wages while three, whose deals were expiring in the summer, have been told they are free to leave.
Bentley, who joined the club from Brentford in 2019 for around £2million, is towards the top earners in the squad and joined during a period when City were spending big in an attempt to achieve promotion. Tomas Kalas, Nahki Wells, Han-Noah Massengo, Jay Dasilva and Kasey Palmer also arrived during that summer.
Pearson is keen to strengthen his side during the January window but conceded he can only make new signings if they free up the wage bill or generate transfer funds through player sales. Ryley Towler remains the only notable departure for a low six-figure fee although that money is likely to be reinvested in the academy.
Bentley's omission from the side is the second time Pearson has dropped him to the bench in less than 12 months. Last season, he came out of the side following a 3-2 defeat against Huddersfield in December and waited just under two months for his next opportunity when O'Leary came off injured in a game against Swansea. He then returned to the side and maintained the No1 shirt into the start of this campaign.
It's unclear whether City will look for a replacement should Bentley leave having signed highly-rated Bajic on a free in the summer. The France youth international trains with the first-team and has impressed during his displays with the U21s.
He endured a difficult debut in the 3-1 defeat against Lincoln but is highly regarded by coaching staff at the club with Pearson revealing in October that he was fast-tracking himself into contention.
O'Leary's current deal at City expires in the summer but the club have the option of an extra year which they are likely to take up.
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