Bristol City transfer notebook: Arsenal starlet not part of striker search, ex-Robins on move

The period immediately after the end of a season is traditionally a slow one for clubs and players with many on holiday following nine months of graft and, true to form, the off-season in the Championship has seen little activity so far.

That said, the campaign isn’t officially over yet as Leeds United and Southampton compete in the play-off final on Sunday, while the Premier League season only came to a close on Sunday with Bristol City head coach Liam Manning admitting so much is dictated by the top-flight.

The Robins are in the market for a striker, creative midfielder and a winger this summer as they look to build on their encouraging end to 2023/24 and have previously shown an aptitude for getting business done relatively early in the market.

Outside of the retained list, it’s been relatively quiet on the West Country front but things are likely to change as May gives way to June, players and managers return from their breaks and the prospect of pre-season looms…

City striker shortlist remains under wraps

Bristol City have been linked with Arsenal’s Nathan Butler-Oyedeji and Ivan Vasilev of Bulgarian side Etar over the weekend, however Bristol Live understands neither frontman is being considered by the Robins as a possible summer addition.

Butler-Oyedeji, who has experienced loans in League One with Accrington Stanley and Cheltenham Town, could be set to leave Emirates Stadium this summer having failed to make a first-team breakthrough.

Football Insider have reported that City and Swansea City are among the interested parties in the Championship with the 21-year-old also wanted by German second division sides Schalke and FC Nurnberg.

But the Robins targets are fixed elsewhere as they look to bring in a frontline striker with a different profile and skillset to Tommy Conway and Nahki Wells. That also won’t be Vasilev who was linked by Turkish journalist Ekrem Konur after nine goals in 32 games in the Bulgarian top-flight, but the 24-year-old is not a player on City’s radar.

Lloyd Kelly on the move

Former City defender Lloyd Kelly is leaving Premier League Bournemouth after five years, Cherries head coach Andoni Iraola has confirmed, with the 25-year-old expected to be reunited with former manager Eddie Howe at Newcastle United.

Kelly was sold by City in 2019 for an initial £13.5m plus further add-ons, and has made 141 appearances for Bournemouth and captained the club but speaking after their final game of the season at Chelsea, Iraola confirmed the Bristolian will “probably play somewhere else” with his contract expiring this summer.

“I think right now, with the season ending, I see it very difficult (he stays),” Iraola told the Bournemouth Echo. “I think probably he will play somewhere else. I thank him for everything, because he has given everything until the last minute.”

Kelly and Fulham’s Tosin Adarabayo are thought to be high on Newcastle’s shortlist this summer after a season of significant injury issues across their defence. Wherever Kelly ends up, there are no financial benefits for City given he'll be signing on a free transfer rendering any resale clauses irrelevant.

Rams release City favourite Smith

Another former Robin looking for a new club this summer will be Korey Smith as the all-action midfielder has been released by Derby County following their promotion to the Championship.

Smith signed for the Rams from Swansea City in 2022 and has made 85 appearances for the club, including 37 in the most recent season as they finished second in League One, with 26 as a starter.

However, Derby have elected not to renew his contract and the 33-year-old joins fellow experienced EFL campaigners Conor Hourihane, Dwight Gayle, Martyn Waghorn and goalkeepers Scott Loach and Joe Wildsmith on the free agent list.

Smith remains a much-loved figure at Ashton Gate after six seasons with the Robins which includes being a key member of the double-winning squad of 2014/15 and scoring the goal that defeated Manchester United in the League Cup semi-finals in 2017/18.

Noble makes managerial return

St Albans City have re-appointed City cult hero David Noble as manager, five months after the 42-year-old left the National League South side to take a job higher up the pyramid at Wealdstone.

Noble lasted just 73 days with Wealdstone before being sacked in April and his return to Clarence Park means he replaced former assistant Jon Meakes who now reprises his role as No2 having taken the club to 11th in the sixth tier.

"David will take up his post with immediate effect and he has already started planning for the 2024-25 season,” a statement read. “The club has been working hard behind the scenes on reforming this partnership and we can’t wait for the season to start.”

Noble ended his playing career at St Albans City having previously made 95 appearances for the Robins from 2005-2008 which included being a key member of the squad which reached the play-off final at Wembley.

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