Bristol City pair set for exit as Bolton and Chelsea close in on transfers

Bristol City are set to part ways with Kane Wilson - who is in line to join a League One club, according to reports.

BristolLive are reporting that Wilson is on his way to join losing play-off semi-finalists Bolton Wanderers, and that a medical will shortly take place. According to the report, the Robins will get a transfer fee for him, which will be in the six-figure mark, having paid £100,000 in compensation last year following his departure from Forest Green Rovers.

The 23-year-old came to Ashton Gate with much promise having been named League Two Player of the Year, but found his opportunities limited. He didn’t start a single game for City in the Championship and suffered a knee injury that required surgery, ruling him out for four months. He made just one appearance, which was a cameo off the bench against Swansea City, before being left out of the squad for the remaining six games of the season.

Nigel Pearson’s change in system made it difficult for Wilson to get in to the side, with George Tanner the first-choice option, whilst Mark Sykes was deployed in that role when City were chasing a game. The arrival of Ross McCrorie, who is a defensive midfielder by trade, but can also play at full-back, made Wilson’s task of breaking in to the team harder, and it has now been decided to move him on, and join Bolton who are trying to assemble a side capable of winning promotion.

In other news, the Women's team are also set to lose one of their players, though they are likely to have her back at least for the 2023/24 campaign. The Daily Mail say that Chelsea are closing in on the signing of 17-year-old defender Brooke Aspin. She will join the Blues when she turns 18 on Saturday, July 1, and because the Vixens could not offer her a contract until she turned 18, they will not receive any compensation for her. Chelsea are open to discussing Aspin returning to City on loan though, as they take their place in the Women's Super League next season.

Aspin missed six months of football last season after a battle with sepsis, but returned for the end of season run-in, and played nearly every game for Lauren Smith's side in the 2021/22 campaign. She has captained Enngland's Under-17's side, is a graduate of Bristol City's academy, and scored in the convincing win over Charlton Athletic which clinched the FA Women's Championship in front of a record crowd for a Women's game at Ashton Gate.

Former Bristol City defender Gemma Evans meanwhile is closing in on a move to Manchester United, as she seeks her next move. Telegraph journalist Tom Garry claimed that the Red Devils are ‘close’ to a deal to sign Evans, who was relegated from the WSL with Reading last month.