Bristol City transfer news notebook: Robins go into final seven days of the window with work to do

Bristol City head to their hotel in Bedfordshire today with several injury doubts for their Tuesday night game against Luton Town.

Rob Atkinson was withdrawn with a back complaint in the first half of the Severnside Derby, and was spotted hobbling as he left Ashton Gate following the 3-2 win against Cardiff City on Saturday.

And with Andy King suffering a reoccurrence of his hamstring complaint from earlier in the season, and Matty James reported as wearing a protective boot for his ankle at the weekend, the squad is stretched in certain areas.

That’s why the club are looking at veteran Swiss defender Timm Klose to come in and add to the options in central defence.

If the former Norwich City man can prove his fitness - and that perhaps shouldn’t be taken for granted after a bad injury with the Canaries and being out of contract since last summer - then that could help at centre-back where Nathan Baker will be out for some time.

Baker was back at Failand last week, sitting in on team meetings, but it he is not expected to be playing again for some time.

And Atkinson’s knock means that City are down to just the bare bones at the back for the trip to Kenilworth Road: Tomas Kalas, Zak Vyner and Cam Pring for the back three.

Thankfully City have Joe Williams to come in to central midfield to aid there, though Alex Scott and Han-Noah Massengo impressed in the middle for the Robins at the weekend.

And though Callum O’Dowda has performed well of late, if unable to offer goals or assists from wide, BristolWorld understands that the club have been examining options at full-back, should the club be able to bring in any other players this window, with plans to bring in another forward parked until the summer.

Should any of Kasey Palmer, Nahki Wells or Jay Dasilva attract good offers then the club would be willing to listen to them and reinvest any incomings into further strengthening, although the chances of this do not look high currently.

Danny Simpson may be allowed to leave this window, should City bring in another right-back.

And then there is Dan Bentley’s position at the club, with last year’s player of the year having not been selected since 18 December and the 2-3 loss to Huddersfield Town.

With the pulsating win over Cardiff City at the weekend, the West Country club are well on course to remain in the Championship this season, and any recruitment could help the Robins push for a top half finish.

City’s young nucleus of players will get better and better and are the bright spot in an otherwise bleak campaign.

And academy director Brian Tinnion taking to social media at the weekend, to explain that none of Scott, Pring or Semenyo will be sold off in the near future, may just be the best news for City supporters for some time.