Bristol City star attracting transfer interest with new deal to be agreed

Bristol City's highly-rated teenager is getting interest again from top clubs, whilst their teammate is close to agreeing a new deal.
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Bristol City Women's goalkeeper Fran Bentley is set to sign a new two-year deal with the club, according to reports.

According to the Daily Mail, Bentley is in talks to extend her stay at Ashton Gate, and that is expected to be announced later this week. The 21-year-old rejoined the club from Manchester United last summer, and featured in all 22 of their FA Women's Championship matches, keeping 12 clean sheets in the league.

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Should Bentley's extension be announced, she would be the second player to commit her future to the club after Emily Syme extended her stay with the Vixens. Syme - in to her second spell at the club - signed a two-year deal with the club on Tuesday, and made 29 appearances for the club in their title-winning campaign, scoring six times, and getting three assists.

"I'm really excited to sign a new contract with Bristol City," said Syme to the club. "It will be a big step up to the WSL but I think it's a challenge I'm ready to take on so I'm pleased to have put pen to paper.

"I really enjoyed last season because I got on with all of the girls and all of the staff so well. I'm familiar with the environment at the club and I know it's somewhere that I'll be able to thrive in.

"I'm quite fortunate in that I already have experience in a team that's won the Championship and then had to make the step up to the top flight and do all the right things to make sure you stay there, so it's one I'm looking forward to again."

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Head Coach Lauren Smith, added: “We’re delighted to have Emily on board for the next two seasons. She’s a great player and a really key part of our group.”

The Mail added in their report, that several clubs are keeping tabs on defender Brooke Aspin, and that she is one of several 'number of talented young players' who are attracting interest from top Women's Super League sides. Aspin cannot sign a professional contract until she turns 18, and if she were to depart the West Country club, they would receive no compensation.

Aspin turns 18 in July, and had been sidelined for six months after a battle with sepsis which hospitalised her for three weeks. She made a triumphant return to action back in March, featuring as a substitute in City's win over Durham Women. She went on to start the five remaining matches of the season and scored in front of a record crowd of over 7,000 at Ashton Gate. To know more about Brooke’s inspirational story, you can watch Surviving Sepsis: Brooke Aspin's story on Bristol City’s YouTube channel.

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