Bristol City transfer stance revealed on Nottm Forest midfielder - also wanted by Stoke

Bristol City are not pursuing a move for Nottingham Forest starlet Ateef Konate, Nigel Pearson has admitted. Konate had been linked with a move to Ashton Gate last week, but a move seems unlikely.

The Robins are searching the market for new players to beef up their squad before the January transfer window shuts. Pearson will not be afforded much money to spend, and players may have to leave first before they can conduct any business. The preference is to sign permanent players, but for possibly the first time in his tenure, the club could bring in a loan player.

Konate, who has just four senior appearances to his name, is an attacking midfielder, a position that City had been looking to strengthen in. The 21-year-old’s only experience this season has been for Forest’s Under-21’s, playing five times, scoring three goals and assisting once.

The Athletic journalist David Ornstein said that City along with their Championship rivals Stoke City, were interested in Konate. Several League One clubs were said to have tabled an offer, as well as Danish outfit Odense Boldklub. Pearson however has shot down the rumours, and has clarified that he is not on their radar.

"Not as far as I know,” said Pearson when asked on Sunday if he was pursuing a move for the French midfielder. “He’s not somebody that I’m aware we’ve got any interest over.”

One player that remains a transfer target for City is Reda Khadra, who has begun the process of his return to Brighton & Hove Albion. Khadra’s loan at Sheffield United is nearing its end with the loan club signalling their intentions to cancel it, which could free up wages for the Blades.

Khadra was a target for City in the summer, with the 59-year-old identifying him as a player that could challenge him, having tried to source ‘a maverick’. The German Under-21 international has one goal in 15 games for United, and has not been involved for the last three matches, but City remain interested.

“His loan deal hasn’t really worked out for him,” said Pearson. “He would be a player that I think would be good for us and we as a club would be good for him.

“It’s something we are exploring again but as it stands at the minute, we can’t do any business until people leave.”