Bristol City edging closer to new signings as latest update emerges

Nigel Pearson has revealed that Bristol City could announce new players over the next few weeks.

The 2022/23 Championship season finished with a 2-0 win for the Robins over QPR on Monday but already work has begun for next season. Brian Tinnion revealed a few months ago that the work would begin after the full-time whistle at Loftus Road, and up to four signings have been earmarked.

In recent weeks, City have been said to have held ‘advanced talks’ with Aberdeen’s Ross McCrorie, with his name not ruled out by the manager. Joe Bryan was last week linked with a sensational return to Ashton Gate, and with the 29-year-old available for free this summer is someone who could be a realistic signing. The last name to be linked is Kevin Nisbet, who was said to be scouted by City, and two Championship rivals last weekend.

The former Leicester City manager has a preference for signing players early to help with plans next season and last year signed Mark Sykes on May 16. Utility man Kal Naismith joined at the end of the month, and there is hope that they can do the same this summer.

“Yes, I do,” when asked by BBC Radio Bristol if he believed the club were in a position to get any transfer deals over the line in the coming weeks.

“The work that goes on beyond the scenes is always very important and we can’t always be overly transparent with it but it’s not that the season finishes and we start.”

“We try and synchronize it so there is an appropriate time to do these things. We’ll try to do them as soon as we can, as soon as the position allows us to do as much as anything.”

Next season is huge for Bristol City and Pearson, as the latter enters the final year of his three-year contract. He had hoped to deliver Premier League football at the end of his original deal, and there is a belief internally that he can get his team into the playoff mix.

Luton Town, Middlesbrough, Sunderland, and Coventry City all qualified for the playoffs, despite none of them receiving parachute payments this season. Luton and Millwall have been earmarked as a blueprint by Pearson for City to follow. Given City last competed in the playoffs in 2008, there is a hope that the 59-year-old can go one further.

He said: “The important thing is we will try and get some early business done and we’ll try to think give everyone a shot in the arm by knowing our plans are, so we can look forward, and add to a day like today which is a really good indicator of where we are.

“I’m sure people have had a few false dawns over the years and we just need to make sure we are prepared and ready to stretch ourselves again next season.”

Incomings are expected, but there could be several players who depart over the coming weeks. Jay Dasilva and Tomas Kalas are two players whose deals expire, having both joined in 2019 after turning their loan moves from Chelsea into permanent deals. Dasilva was left out of the squad against QPR, and Kalas made a cameo appearance from the bench having made his first appearance since early March.

Both players have been offered contracts by City, albeit on reduced terms which will help City reach their self-imposed wage structure. Kalas and Dasilva have attracted offers from elsewhere however with the latter wanted by Coventry City in January, whilst Swansea City are also said to be admirers.

“Those are ongoing anyway,” said Pearson when asked about the future of those whose contracts expire.

“We’ll see where that goes. There have been offers made to players and we’ll just see whether those situations develop in a positive way or not.

“I can’t give you too much details on that because I like my relationships with the players to be based on football, not finances.”