The transfer window has opened so let the madness commence if it hasn't started already following the rumours of Gareth Bale heading to the Championship.
We can safely say that the Welshman's wage packet may be a stretch too far for Bristol City's budget. Plus who needs Bale if Jay Dasilva continues with the rich vein of form he showed towards the end of last season?
Back to reality and Nigel Pearson's summer took yet another good turn on last Friday when Kane Wilson became the club's third new signing following deals to bring in Mark Sykes and Kal Naismith for a grand total of nothing. Shrewd business indeed, although there will be a small compensation fee to pay Forest Green.
It's a giant leap in the right direction and considering the deals being completed across the Championship so far, the Robins are ahead of their rivals when it's come down to player recruitment. Although lots can still change between now and the beginning of the season.
What is certain is that City won't stop there. Names have been bounded about - some have legs such as Reading's Andy Rinomhota remains an option while others have fallen by the wayside including Arsenal youngster Ryan Alebiosu.
There also hasn't been much talk of any major outgoings, which can be seen as a positive or negative depending on the player and situation. Kasey Palmer looks set to join Coventry which will relieve pressure on an already high wage bill however he is expected to be allowed to leave for nothing offering no cash to be invested elsewhere.
Tomas Kalas was also linked with a switch to Stoke City last week, again another player who is at the upper ends of the club's payscale. It's the futures of striker Antoine Semenyo and Alex Scott in which the club are understandably most cautious over. Keeping the duo around into next season remains vital if Pearson is determined to match his ambitions by mounting a play-off challenge.
Fortunately, for now, there have only been tenuous links surrounding the pair's exit and Scott's incredibly mature interview towards the end of last season instilled confidence that he in particular is looking forward to developing as a City player into the following campaign.
Although there will be plenty of twists and developments from now up until the transfer window closes at the beginning of September, here's the business that City still need to conclude between now and the rest of the season.
Central defence
This almost seems inconceivable considering the fact that Bristol City have 11 central defenders at their disposal at the moment but Bristol Live understands the club are still looking to bring in one more player in that position - even if Robbie Cundy signs his new contract as expected.
Following Naismith's arrival and Timm Klose's new contract, they also have Nathan Baker, Tomas Kalas, Duncan Idehen, Ryley Towler, Zak Vyner, Cundy, Rob Atkinson, Cam Pring and Taylor Moore.
However, Baker's future remains unclear following his two concussions, Idehen and Towler are likely to be sent out on loan, Cundy has yet to sign a contract extension (for now), Pring fell out of favour towards the end of the season and is seen more as a left wing-back, Vyner is free to leave should the club receive a suitable offer and likewise with Moore - keeping up?
Kalas is also a predicament in itself with his contract expiring in 12 months' time considering he remains one of the best in his position in the Championship. There are no guarantees he'll be a City player by the end of the transfer window in September, especially as he remains one of the club's highest earners and it's the final opportunity to claw back some of the £8million spent on him in 2019.
Hypothetically, if Kalas did leave with rumours that Stoke are interested, Idehen and Towler on temporary spells out of Ashton Gate, Vyner and Moore gone and the uncertainty of Baker, those options of 11 central defenders suddenly are dwindled down to six. Pring is also seen as more of a left wing-back despite games when he featured in the centre last season.
It can be assumed that Pearson, who would be open to tinkering among a back three and four next season, will keep Klose, Naismith and Atkinson as starters - Kalas too, if he stays but this could be a deal with is likely to have a domino effect and the whole defensive structure is likely to figure itself out in the weeks to come.
Therefore the type of player the manager will want to bring in raises a question in itself. Pearson has often reiterated how he will only sign players who are better than they've already got at his disposal and if they don't arrive on a free transfer, then City would undoubtedly need to spend a fair amount of cash - riches they aren't entirely blessed with at the moment.
Bristol World linked Northampton's Fraser Horsfall to City while Derby veteran Curtis Davies has also been a name in the headlines as he prepares to leave Derby on a free transfer. Pearson is likely to bide his time and weigh up the external factors before dipping his toes back into the market for a centre-back.
Defensive midfield
If one thing is for certain, City can't have a repeat of their defensive record last season that saw them ship in 77 goals throughout the campaign. Pearson knows it could be his job on the line should there be a repeat performance.
"I don't have one," was the response after the home defeat against Birmingham towards the end of last season when quizzed on defensive midfielders in his squad.
City were too open through the middle of the park last season, although perhaps were more assured when both Joe Williams and Matty James could finally forge a partnership two-thirds of the way through the season.
Arguably City haven't had a midfielder enforcer, somebody who can sit in front of the back and dictate play since the days of Marlon Pack before he left for Cardiff.
Bristol Live confirmed Pack is one of the players who could return to BS3 this summer, which will divide opinion amongst the supporters, when his contract at Cardiff expires at the end of June. Although he remains just an option in a list of targets.
One of those and perhaps the priority is Reading's Rinomhota. Out of contract this month, he looks increasingly likely to depart the Royals and would be suited to the Robins.
Although there's one small stumbling block as Bristol Live previously reported. Stoke City are also looking towards his signature which comes as no surprise that the 25-year-old is attracting other Championship interest.
A defensive midfielder is not only so important to provide extra cover for the defence, it provides more freedom for the likes of Alex Scott to push forward and be unleashed in his favoured No10 role, particularly following the arrival of Wilson at wing-back.
Assuming Han-Noah Massengo leaves the club this summer which appears inevitable, likewise with Kasey Palmer and Tyreeq Bakinson, that leaves Pearson short of options with just Scott, Williams and James as the midfield trio. Andy King is still deliberating on a contract as a player/coach while Ayman Benarous is ruled out until around Christmas with an ACL injury.
A striker
Pearson has a settled front three and quite rightly will stick with the WSM trio heading into next season baring anything major developments in the transfer window.
Antoine Semenyo remains the most likely to leave and all it would take is a cash-rich Premier League team to throw in an offer that City can't refuse - somewhere believed to be in the region of £20million. Nottingham Forest made an offer in January while Chelsea have also shown an interest although nothing concrete has developed.
City will be hoping it stays that way because Semenyo is crucial to any success the club have next season. With another year on his contract with the option of extending it until 2024, the Robins are confident they will head into the new season with Semenyo leading the line alongside Chris Martin and Andi Weimann tucked in behind.
Even if that remains the case, a forward should still be on the shortlist because if one of those picks up an injury, there's not much in the form of back-up. That's because Nahki Wells could still very much leave this summer with a year left on his deal.
Bristol Live reported last month how it's a saga that is likely to develop right up until the end of the window. He's also one of the top earners on the books and the club are willing to listen to offers having played a bit-part role last season with just seven Championship starts.
A move is likely to suit both parties but finding a side that would be willing to match his City wages will prove the most challenging part of the transfer. Then we have the duo of Sam Bell and Tommy Conway, both of who are pushing for their chance in the first team.
Brian Tinnion recently said how the pair were the future of the club but also conceded how the coaching staff will sit down in the summer and discuss what's best for them in regards to their development next season. It's possible one will head out on loan while the other stays, potentially switching roles in January.
There's also Chris Martin who is almost resembling a fine wine, red of course, following last season's exploits. 45 appearances throughout the campaign, including 43 starts that returned 12 goals. Not bad for a striker that turns 34 in November.
Martin was integral to Pearson's plans last season, not only in linking up with the attack but also with his defensive qualities - described by the manager as the best defender in the side with his ability to defend set-pieces.
Although it's asking a lot for the forward to replicate those kind of numbers once again with the rigours of the Championship and player of similar mould, who can alternate with Martin certainly would appear a wise decision.
SIGN UP: For our daily Robins newsletter, bringing you the latest from Ashton Gate
