Bristol City 'leading' race to sign £2m Wolves star after Finn Azaz disappointment

Bristol City have been linked with a transfer swoop for Wolves midfielder Luke Cundle.

According to affiliate paper the Express & Star, the Robins are one of the leading clubs in the race to sign the 21-year-old. Bristol City face competition from Stoke City amongst other clubs to secure his signature. It will cost Bristol City or the several clubs interested a fee of around £2m.

The links to Cundle comes after Bristol City missed out on his former Pilgrims teammate Finn Azaz. Azaz was recalled by Aston Villa and has completed a £2.5m move to Middlesbrough. Bristol City were said to be interested, but missed out on his signature and are now looking at other targets.

City's confirmed interest in Azaz, and now their links to Cundle gives the suggestion that an attacking midfielder is their priority this month. Alex Scott was sold for a club record £25m to AFC Bournemouth, and now Liam Manning could be afforded the opportunity to dip into that transfer kitty.

Cundle is on a season-long loan at Home Park, and has had a successful spell during his time down in Devon. He has played 26 games in all competitions with five assists and three goals.

The Warrington-born youngster was at Swansea City last season, and got four assists and three goals during his time in South Wales. To date, he has nine assists and six goals in 56 Championship appearances. He has made seven appearances for Wolves first-team with four being in the Premier League and the rest in the FA Cup and Carabao Cup.

Stoke's advantage over Bristol City is that manager Steven Schumacher has already worked with the player. Schumacher brought Cundle to Home Park, and is now looking to reunite with the central midfielder.

City's transfer committee has already been busy this window with the arrivals of three new players. Forward Jack Griffin has joined from Guernsey whilst Jack Hooper has signed on a two-year scholarship. Hooper is a 17-year-old centre-back and stands at an impressive six foot five, and will link up with the academy team.

The latest arrival to Ashton Gate was Adam Murphy, who joined from League of Ireland outfit St Patrick's Athletic. Murphy was a target in the summer and has finally put pen-to-paper on a three-and-a-half-year deal with an option of extending his stay by a further 12 months.

“The main attraction for me of Bristol City was the pathway for a young player into the first team," said Murphy to the official club website.

"That’s what you want as a young player, to be given an opportunity and the club has proved countless times that it does that. Hopefully I can make that opportunity for myself and, if it comes along, I can take it.”