Nigel Pearson told about 7 Bristol City transfer decisions he must make this summer

Bristol City are approaching a crucial time in the tenure of Nigel Pearson with a big summer transfer window ahead of them.

The window officially opens on June 12, but some clubs are expected to conduct and announce their business early, with numerous retained lists being published by clubs across the Football League. The Robins have published theirs and there were no major surprises, with Jay Dasilva's departure the only major bit of news. City are expected to make some signings in the next few weeks with Joe Bryan and Ross McCrorie the two names closest to making a move to Ashton Gate.

Bryan's potential return to the West Country was a question that was posed in our big Bristol City survey, which garnered the thoughts of fans for next season such as expectations about performance, as well as how they expect Nigel Pearson to conduct his transfer business. Here's the full results from that survey, and to be fair that's how we expect things to take place too.

How many signings to expect...

As to previous business this was the closest when it came to coming to a decision but 50.9% of voters believe City did enough transfer business last season 49.1% disagreed. Sometimes signing too many players can upset the balance of the squad and right now there’s a good settled squad in there but it does need just a few more faces to help provide depth, most specifically in defence.

Fans get excited by the news of a transfer being announced and it's a circle of speculation and then confirmation, though some slip through the media. 64.3% of fans don't want wholesale changes to the squad and believe five or less is how many new players are needed.

30.4% of fans believe five to ten new signings are needed which would mean a busy summer indeed, and that is more than what technical director Brian Tinnion has suggested. More than ten signings are needed according to 5.4% fans who want City to either replace what they’ve got or make for a much bigger squad.

Nige’s got their approval!

94.6% of fans believe Pearson has done a satisfactory job and 92.9% believe that no managerial changes need to be made. He’s got their backing to continue in what is his final year contracted to the club.

84.8% back Pearson and technical director Brian Tinnion who is in charge of identifying and suggesting targets whilst Phil Alexander is the CEO. Tinnion was a player then a manager for City, and has a long association to the club so it's good that fans trust him to get the business done.

Fans expect money to be spent…

Antoine Semenyo’s sale to Bournemouth brought the signings of Anis Mehmeti and Harry Cornick. The Cherries’ survival could mean more money coming City’s way but that sale means fans expect money signings.

Last summer saw four arrivals and all were signed for free though there was compensation paid towards Forest Green. 64.3% expect players to join for fees and then 32.1% believe free transfers will front up the business. The loan market isn’t something that has been utilised and only 3.6% expect loans.

The stance on the loan market…

With only 3.6% expecting loans, it’s an important talking point. During Pearson’s two-and-a-half-year tenure, he’s yet to make any loan additions. He did manage Steven Sessegnon but never brought in his own loan players. It’s not for the act of trying though as he did make an attempt to sign Reda Khadra, as well as Jake O’Brien.

Fans stance on the loan market is 62.5% of fans only want them to join if it makes the team stronger. They want loan additions that are going to start rather than beef up the squad. 21.4% are ‘definitely’ in favour of it. 14.3% of the vote admitted that the money would be better on making permanent signings whilst 1.8% were against loans all together.

Preference of signings

41.1% of fans want the club to sign ‘Young EFL players who are hungry and can improve’ which is more or less what they’ve done under Nigel Pearson so far.

Rob Atkinson, George Tanner, Mark Sykes and Kane Wilson are all 25-years-old or younger and have been brought in from the lower leagues. Tanner personifies that by bouncing back from an injury-hit campaign to solve City’s issues at right-back and sign a new deal.

It doesn’t mean however that there can’t be some experience brought in with 36.6% wanting Championship performers. Nigel Pearson by his own admission wants a bit of experience and you only have to look at Andy King, Kal Naismith and Matty James as to what experience can bring to the team.

12.5% want released youngsters from Premier League clubs, 7.1% want marquee signings and then only 1.8% want top performing players from League Two or below.

Where do you see the majority of signings coming from?

League One is where fans see most of their business coming from. 73.2% believe there signings will be from the third tier which will hint that nothing will change as much going forward. For two seasons now players from the league have been recruited there. In second is the Championship with 17.9% believing signings will come from their league rivals. In single figures is 4.5% believing youngsters from the Premier League will front up the business, 2.7% from abroad and only 1.8% from League Two.

End-of-season ambitions…

Bristol City supporters are expecting a top-half finish next season. 67% of respondents believe the team will finish eighth to 12th with the current squad.

Luckily, no fan believes they will be relegated whilst 1.8% are feeling optimistic and think they’ll finish in the automatics. 10.7% believe they’ll finish below mid-table which is 13th to 21st.

20.5% of the vote went to a play-off spot which is a realistic aim for next season. A finish of 14th this year is a good platform to have with deadline day signings Anis Mehmeti and Harry Cornick having more of a chance to make an impact.