Key Bristol City transfer hint emerges

Bristol City CEO Richard Gould has said the Robins will be targeting players in League One or League Two as opposed to Premiership giants like Chelsea, speaking openly to Bristol Live about the club’s transfer strategy.

Like many other sides across the division, the second-tier outfit only spent a very limited amount of money with only Rob Atkinson and George Tanner coming in for fees from League One side Oxford and League Two club Carlisle respectively.

The rest of their additions came via free transfers with former Leicester City players Matty James and Andy King arriving at Ashton Gate, both of whom played under current manager Nigel Pearson at the King Power Stadium.

Ex-Norwich City centre-back Timm Klose joined the quartet in January after being released from Carrow Road last summer, potentially signalling another summer of limited spending despite Pearson’s calls for big changes in the summer.

Pearson has also stated his desire to recruit more ‘Championship-ready’ players in the coming months after seeing his side struggle for much of the season before their 5-0 hammering of Hull City yesterday afternoon.

But CEO Gould has hinted that the Robins will be looking towards the lower leagues for fresh recruits this summer once again, following a similar path to last year.

He said: “We’re not working to a reduced budget at this point and we just want to make sure that the budget we use, that we get as many pounds out on the pitch at the same time.

“That’s what it’s all about and that’s been one of the challenges over the last 12 months.

“We were one of the few clubs that spent last year, if you remember. Last year set the tone with where transfers are likely to be in that fees are likely to be paid on promising players