Bristol City transfer news: Wycombe’s Mehmeti joins and Harry Cornick moves from Luton

Welcome to today’s Deadline Day live blog, where we’ll be keeping an eye on Bristol City, with several deals apparently in the pipeline. It could be a busy day at the High Performance Centre today, which is nice given it’s not really a day that Robins fans get to celebrate much.

Club legend Brian Tinnion has unearthed some great young talents, such as Alex Scott and Antoine Semenyo recently. Tinnion became technical director last month and is in charge of transfers, and he’s tweeted early today ‘Exciting day ahead.’

That’s all but confirming that something is happening today, and we should see at least one arrival at the High Performance Centre today which should be Anis Mehmeti.

There are other players linked with a move, but there are some complex layers to some such as Jake O’Brien, who would need to be recalled and then sent out, with potential international clearance needed from the Belgian club.

Bristol City aren’t expected to break the bank in their signing of Anis Mehmeti, with the midfielder out of contract at the end of next season.

Mehmeti’s story is an interesting one, he bounced back from being released by the likes of Fulham, Norwich and Spurs, to get back in to the professional game. He’s a player that absolutely fits the bill for a player at Ashton Gate, they like scouring the lower leagues for young talent that can either be sold on for a larger fee or someone who most importanly can add to the team.

Wycombe’s manager Gareth Ainsworth earlier this month valued Mehmeti between £5m to £7m, which would have been ideal for them, but it’s understood that it is nowhere near that.

“His story is insane as he has learnt his trade by playing in those tight cages in London,” he said in an interview earlier this month with the Bucks Free Press. He has worked his socks off and whenever he plays, it’s as if he has got his own ball.

What he has is ridiculous and I know it’s something that I cannot coach, but I can help him get into the positions in which he can receive the ball and hopefully do some magic. “

“And if anyone wants to put £5m, £6m, or £7m in then we might consider letting him go. “But hopefully we can keep him in January.”

Han-Noah Massengo’s move to Auxerre was finalised on Monday evening, in the midst of an FA Cup draw that saw them draw Manchester City at home.

Massengo has been given the number 80 shirt which is an interesting choice... He could make his debut for his new club against Monaco, who Bristol City boought him from.

It’s the final day at the football club for Richard Gould, who after today will take up a role with the England and Wales Cricket Board. Gould’s background was mainly in cricket but he came to Bristol in the summer of 2021, and has worked alongside Nigel Pearson in a plan to try and make the club more sustainable.

The South London Press report that a third bid has been submitted by Bristol City for AFC Wimbledon left-back Jack Currie. Currie’s only in to his first season in the EFL, but was apparently on Leeds United’s transfer radar.

Chris Martin and Timm Klose have been left out of Bristol City’s squads for the last month or so, and are free to leave the club. Klose held talks with the club about leaving, meanwhile Martin was kept around given the injuries to Andi Weimann and Tommy Conway, and Antoine Semenyo’s sale to Bournemouth.

There is League One interest in Martin, who has not played in the third tier of English football since 2009/10, helping Norwich City win promotion.

Bristol City did the unthinkable and signed Matty Taylor from Bristol Rovers after meeting his release clause. Some players have featured for both clubs but he is the last player to move directly across the city. Taylor was a hero in the blue-and-white quarters, firing them from the National League to contenders for the play-offs in League One.

Former Bristol City defender Jody Morris has been appointed manager of League Two outfit Swindon Town. Morris joined the Robins in June 2012, and played under Derek McInnes, but he made just four appearances, before retiring.

He was an academy coach at Chelsea and later worked alongside Frank Lampard at Derby County, as well as the Blues, but now Morris after suffering many setbacks when applying for jobs, is now in a role.

AFC Wimbledon want a fee of £1m if they are to part ways with left-back Jack Currie. Wimbledon have already let Ayoub Assal go to Qatari club Al-Markhiya whre they will get a sizeable fee for their stature.

Bristol City’s Under-21’s face Reading this afternoon, and one player that has featured regularly for them in recent weeks is Han-Noah Massengo. Massengo won’t be able to offer his experience to any of the youngsters any more as he as he prepares himself for a relegation fight in Ligue One with Auxerre.

Bristol City have named their Under-21’s side to face Reading with kick-off at 1.00 pm. Duncan Idehen is included which makes a move away from the HPC unlikely. Idehen was on loan at Carlisle United earlier in the season but was sent back by former Robins coach Paul Simpson. Olly Thomas, named on the bench last Saturday starts after returning from a loan at Bath City.

It’s interesting that Nikita Haikin is not named in the squad today, as Stefan Bajic would usually play and it would have been good to give him first-team minutes, but you can’t afford an injury at this point.

Alex Scott was linked with a move away from Bristol City this transfer window with a starting valuation of £12m, which was quickly dismissed by Nigel Pearson. Leicester City and Wolverhampton Wanderers have been the two teams that have shown the strongest interest in the 19-year-old with discussions said to have taken place.

Technical director Brian Tinnion, has slapped a new valuation from the £20-25m that was initially spoken about. It’s perhaps tongue-in-cheek, but obviously shows how highly regarded he is at the HPC.

A glance on RWD Molenbeek’s website still has Jake O’Brien listed amongst their players, and there is no official statement yet from the Belgian club who are currently on course for promotion over whether his loan deal is being cancelled.

In fact in the last hour, they have tweeted photos of their win over Lierse on the weekend, and O’Brien has shared a photo of him scoring in the 2-1 win with a towering header.

Wycombe Wanderers - a club Robins are dealing with over the purchase of Anis Mehmeti - and their League One rivals Portsmouth are also said to be interested.

Bristol City haven’t got to worry about any challenge from Swansea City, as reports from WalesOnline say that the Swans are looking elsewhere. A new goalkeeper and striker is what they want, and it is believed the Robins are now the favourites for Cornick’s signature.

There is still however plenty to get through for a deal to be done however with a fee needing to be agreed, as well as a medical which will need to take place. Luton are in Championship action tonight against Cardiff City, so whether he is in the squad or not will be telling... Keep an eye on their Twitter feed at 6.45 pm.

Football Insider claim that Bristol City are in ‘advanced talks’ to sign Harry Cornick from Luton Town now. He is out-of-contract at the end of the season, and now the website claims they could be willing to let him go for a transfer fee to avoid losing him for nothing in the summer.

Bristol City have confirmed the signing of Anis Mehmeti from Wycombe Wanderers on a three-year deal for an undisclosed fee. He will wear the number 11 shirt that was made vacant after Antoine Semenyo’s move to Bournemouth.