How Kalifa Cisse and data played a part in Bristol City’s year in the making signing

He may not have played a game yet for Bristol City but already, the club have made big efforts to bring Stefan Bajic to the club.

Ever since Brexit took place, transfers for players from abroad have become harder, especially for teams who don’t have the Premier League riches to push it through.

Bajic’s move to Ashton Gate was not straightforward and he had to satisfy the UK Government’s point-based system to validate his move, similar to any profession.

A 34-page dossier was drawn out to ensure that the 20-year-old could link up with the Robins after showing their initial interest in signing him.

Now Jimmy Laloum, who works for Classico Sports Management and represents Bajic as well as the likes of Cardiff City’s Cedric Kipre and Iliman Ndiaye of Sheffield United, reveals how such a move took place.

He said to The Transfer Room: “We went through the process which was difficult because of the GBE points. The platform says he has 12 points. I warned them that he’s not going to get the Auto-Pass, so he will need to go to the Exemptions Panel.

“He didn’t want to hear about this, he (Bajic) said ‘Jimmy, no we think. I said no, I know the TransferRoom GBE Calculator is accurate.

“They had to send a 34-page folder to the FA and it was all validated.”

There had been the potential for the French shot-stopper to remain in France with second-tier side Valenciennes interested.

After leaving Pau on a free-transfer having only moved there in January from Saint-Etienne, where he played a number of matches, there was only one move he wanted.

A move across the Channel to Bristol City came about and funnily enough, it was through a relationship between Bajic’s agent and Kalifa Cisse - who describes himself as a coach and scout - which made the move happen

Cisse, who played for City between 2010 and 2012 is now tasked with identifying new players for Nigel Pearson and the club’s board to sign.

With club captain Daniel Bentley and Max O’Leary both out of contract at the end of the season, he was tasked with finding a ready-made goalkeeper that could challenge for the number one spot.

He said: “We were really close to signing him to a club in France in Ligue 2 using our network. Not at the last one but at the previous summit in Madrid, I made a really good connection with the chief scout from Bristol City, who is also from France.

“I didn’t want to put my goalkeeper in France because for me it was not his level. Just by networking and calling the clubs, he just told me ‘Jimmy, it’s Kalifa Cisse, you know. I just finished my meeting with our CEO and we are looking for a top young goalkeeper in terms of potential.

“And I said ‘listen I think I may have the one.

“It’s a pretty good deal for my player because the Championship is the sixth biggest league in the world.”

Bajic is currently recovering from having surgery on his wrist, an injury he sustained at his former club.

He is still waiting to properly integrate with the squad and is taking his time before he can enter a match day squad.

Time is on his side with the goalkeeper penning a three-year contract on his arrival at the West Country club.