Bristol City: The Most Crucial Week For The Robins In the Summer Transfer Window

There is one week to go in this year’s Summer Transfer Window with many clubs feeling satisfied with their business so far and others looking to push through more deals before the September 1st deadline.

For fans of the Robins, however, many are feeling nervous about the prospect of losing their key players with just days to go and manager Nigel Pearson is praying for his squad to stay intact.

Their transfer dealings have been very positive so far with five additions to their squad but their summer business may be defined by the last six days of the window.

Who Could Still Leave?

The most concerning issue within the last week of the window is the future of Max Vyner as the influential centre-back’s contract expires at the end of the season.

Vyner is currently the only fit and specialised centre-back at the club and the 26-year-old is an ever-present for the Championship side this term.

The defender has made over 120 appearances for the Robins since coming through the academy ranks in 2015 also spending time on loan at Accrington Stanley, Plymouth Argyle, Rotherham United and Aberdeen.

Many clubs from the Championship and further afield are keeping tabs on the defender, including Southampton and Swansea City, whilst Luton Town are keeping watch from the Premier League.

There is however some good news as Rangers have cooled their interest in recent days.

Sam Bell is another player being looked at by several clubs in recent weeks.

The 21-year-old left winger has scored one goal in four league games this season and is one of Bristol City’s hottest properties.

The youth graduate has made 36 appearances since 2020, scoring four goals and has been linked with Brentford, Brighton & Hove Albion, Crystal Palace, Wolverhampton Wanderers and Scottish heavyweights Rangers.

Bell scored an injury-time winner against Swansea City in the FA Cup Third Round replay last season and scored a brace in the following round against West Bromwich Albion in their run to the Fifth Round.

In positive news, Cameron Pring will stay at Ashton Gate after agreeing a new deal. Pring made 37 appearances as a left-back last season, making six assists and was linked to West Ham United.

However, the 25-year-old will stay and has said that he aims to get to the Premier League with Bristol City.

Pring said: “I think we’ve got the infrastructure and the facilities to be there and we’ve got to push on and make it happen.”

What About Incomings?

Irish sensation Adam Murphy is still linked with joining the South-west club but new developments mean that he may stay at St Patrick’s Athletics until January.

It is thought that Bristol City are leading the race for the 18-year-old midfielder ahead of Premier League teams due to their eagerness to get a deal done despite his contract expiring in November.

If this was to happen, Murphy would sign a pre-contract agreement with the Robins and would join in a few months.

Murphy has made 23 appearances this year and his team are just four points behind Shamrock Rovers at the top of the league. They are also in the Quarter-Finals of the FAI Cup, being drawn away to Finn Harps.

Apart from this deal, there seems to be no one else incoming to Ashton Gate due to the acknowledged wage issues at the club and despite Alex Scott’s sale to Bournemouth for £25 million.

Manager Nigel Pearson has said that the club are at the maximum limit for wages and wants to stay within the Financial Fair Play limits.

Meanwhile, new loan signing Taylor Gardner-Hickman joined within the last few days from West Brom, making his debut off the bench against Hull City and becoming the fifth and potentially final signing of the window. At the end of the season, Gardner-Hickman can be bought for £1.3 million.

Fans will be praying and hoping that the likes of Vyner and Bell will be at the club come the end of the last week of one of the craziest transfer windows of all time, keeping those stars will result in a successful transfer window.

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