The Bristol City stars who will be in demand this January with Southampton, Spurs and Manchester City watching on

The January sales can apply to eager shoppers with some disposable income, but also to EFL clubs who may look to change their playing squad options for the second half of the 2021/22 season.

Bristol City are looking to strengthen in the next transfer window but only if they can find the right options, but manager Nigel Pearson will only spend if it is to improve on what he already has at Ashton Gate.

“I will work with what I’ve got until I can improve it and that’s the bottom line,” said the manager recently.

But the transfer window is also about outgoings as well as incomings, and the Robins are well known as a club who will sell their best players for the right price.

It may even be worth considering selling a player that can be replaced, to further invest in the playing squad.

With all of that in mind, here are the players that we see as being targets for other clubs, with Premier League sides having been in regular attendance in BS3 watching City players.

BristolWorld can reveal that Manchester City’s Emerging Talent Scout James Sharman was at Ashton Gate earlier this year, while Tottenham Hotspur and Southampton have had representatives at games too.

Dan Bentley

The Bristol City club captain - who took over this season from Tomas Kalas - was named as the Robins’ player of the season for 2020/21, which in part demonstrates how tough the last campaign was.

In all seriousness, Bentley was excellent as he made plenty of points-winning saves and denied opposition forwards when one-on-one, with standout performances away at Sheffield Wednesday and Nottingham Forest last season, and again excellent at Cardiff City and QPR this.

The 28-year-old is a leader on the pitch, and his bellowing from the back was certainly evident when games went behind closed doors, and he could attract the attentions of Premier League sides looking to reinforce in goal.

With Brexit legislation making domestic players all the more valuable, Bentley would tick a lot of recruitment boxes for top-level teams.

Thankfully Bentley is tied down at Ashton Gate until 2023, and a switch would therefore require a good fee.

While Bentley himself admitted to Bristol City supporters that his aim is to reach the top tier earlier this season at a supporters meet-and-greet session, the West Country side may have a big decision to make next summer when just one year will remain on the goalkeeper’s deal.

Alex Scott

Premier League clubs are often scouting at Ashton Gate, and all of the top sides will be aware of England U19 international Scott, who has been a regular for the Robins in 2021/22.

The ‘Guernsey Grealish’ has serious talent on the ball, able to keep possession easily, win fouls and glide past the opposition at times.

Scott has shone in recent games for Ian Foster’s national side, playing alongside some of the most highly rated young players in England, such as Aston Villa’s Carney Chukwuemeka and Tottenham’s Dane Scarlett.

The 18-year-old was pinned down on a four-year-deal back in August, which means Bristol City hold all the cards regarding the former Guernsey FC talent’s future.

But with the attacking midfielder steadily developing in the Championship it is likely that it will not be too long before the big boys come calling and Nigel Pearson and co have a decision to make.

Tomas Kalas

While Kalas was mysteriously absent for Bristol City’s final game of the campaign following a training ground incident, the Czech Republic international went on to star for his country at Euro 2020.

There will likely have been interest in the central defender but Bristol City held firm, keeping the club record signing in BS3, despite Nigel Pearson preferring Bentley as his captain and with the centre-back then having to - perhaps strangely - win his place in the team back at the start of this campaign.

Kalas is a regular for his country and has two promotions from the Championship on his CV.

The 6ft 28-year-old has been there and done it in the second tier, and was excellent for the Robins previously alongside Adam Webster and in a back three under Dean Holden.

And it would be of no surprise if interest from any clubs in the promotion mix came sniffing around the 28-cap defender in the next three windows for the player who is contracted at Ashton Gate until the summer of 2023.