Bristol City’s transfer stance on Sheffield Wednesday midfielder revealed

Bristol City are unlikely to make a move for Sheffield Wednesday midfielder Fisayo Dele-Bashiru when the January transfer window opens. Dele-Bashiru was a reported target for the Robins towards the end of the summer transfer window, but a move did not take place.

Dele-Bashiru is out of contract at the end of the season, and will be free to speak to clubs from outside of England over a pre-contract move. It could provide an opportunity for interested parties to make a cut-price offer for the player, should he not signal his intentions about staying at Hillsborough.

The latest update as per the Sheffield Star is that talks were at an advanced stage, and that the Owls were hopeful of nailing a new deal. As January approaches however, they will lose their negotiating position for a new contract, with the list of clubs growing after a string of good performances. Dutch club PSV Eindhoven are one club said to be interested, as well as Turkish giants Besiktas and Antalyaspor. Last summer Wednesday rejected a six-figure bid from City's Championship rivals Blackpool.

One club however that is unlikely to make the most of the situation is the Robins, who are said to not be interested in the central midfielder. Interest in Dele-Bashiru was reported in August, and their stance has not changed over the last few months.

“I’ve never lodged an interest in that so I don’t know where that has come from," said first-team manager Nigel Pearson in late August. "Maybe it’s Tyreeq’s Bakinsons agent getting busy.”

City have already begun their plans for the January transfer window however with Pearson wanting to conduct business early. Nahki Wells has signed a new contract and six others have been offered new deals. Three unnamed out-of-contract players have been told they will not be offered new contracts, and that could speed up their exits from Ashton Gate.