Exclusive: Birmingham City, Reading and Huddersfield join QPR in race for Bristol City playmaker Kasey Palmer

Bristol City CEO Richard Gould’s phone is running red hot this month with the transfer window in full effect.

BristolWorld broke the news on the weekend that QPR are in talks for midfielder Kasey Palmer, but despite some reports that talks are ‘advanced’, the race to sign the 25-year-old had only really just begun.

According to sources, several other second tier sides have taken an interest and are considering offers for the Jamaica international.

Only a permanent move appeals to the player and QPR are the likeliest winners of Palmer’s signature, with Mark Warburton admitting at the weekend that he is looking to recruit two players this window for the West London outfit, to cover players playing at the AFCON tournament.

But Bristol City have discussed Palmer with other sides too.

Birmingham City are perhaps most keen with Lee Bowyer a fan, especially with Palmer having played well at St Andrew’s twice in recent years. The Blues have discussed a possible player exchange and a central defender was mooted as a swap.

However, Bristol City are not expected to agree and QPR remain the likeliest destination.

Palmer’s former side Huddersfield Town are another admirer, knowing all too well what Palmer can offer as the former Chelsea man helped the Terriers to promotion in 2017, while Reading also have a minor interest, but only in the event that John Swift leaves this month, something not anticipated at the Royals.

And then there remains Bristol City who will not stand in Palmer’s way if a good offer arrives with Ayman Benarous and Alex Scott enjoying breakthrough campaigns at senior level, but who may yet even opt to keep the player as they assess the January market.

Manager Nigel Pearson is heavily considering playing Palmer against Fulham in the FA Cup this coming weekend and giving the former England U21 player another and possibly last chance to impress.

Given that there is significant interest in French midfielder Han-Noah Massengo this window too, City may yet need all of their senior midfielders this season. Massengo is wanted by Freiburg in the Bundesliga.

The 20-year-old is not expected to sign a new deal at Ashton Gate, and therefore City must decide to cash in in January or next summer when the central midfielder has a year left on his deal.

And the same is true of Palmer, who last started for City in the 1-2 loss to Nottingham Forest: out of contract in the summer of 2023, with the Robins facing big decisions this month regarding their playing squad.

Palmer has made one start in the league in 2021/22 and appeared five times from the bench. Massengo has 12 starts to his name this campaign, and six more as a substitute.

Bristol City were approached for comment, but none was given.