Double bid for Bristol defenders

BIRMINGHAM City have launched a double bid to sign Bristol City defenders Aden Flint and Joe Bryan.

Blues boss Harry Redknapp is keen to add to his defensive ranks ahead of the new season, which gets under way with a trip to Ipswich Town on Saturday, and has targeted the Ashton Gate pair.

Blues are thought to have made a bid of around £5million in an attempt to lure the duo to St Andrew’s.

Centre-back Flint and left-back Bryan are both on the radar of Leeds United but Redknapp is determined to bolster his options at the back as he heads into his first full season in charge at Blues.

Both players were in action for Bristol City in their 2-0 friendly win against FC Twente last Friday night where Redknapp was watching on from the stands.

Bryan netted a superb free-kick against the Dutch side. Flint, 28, didn’t miss a league game last season and has made 200 appearances in total since joining Bristol four years ago.

The highly-rated former Swindon man signed a new deal at Ashton Gate until 2020 in December and the Robins want to keep him. Redknapp has previously confirmed his interest in Flint, saying: “I have seen a lot of Flint. I like Flint, he is a good player.

“But whether Bristol City would want to sell him – they have just bought (Nathan) Baker for £3m – maybe they have got an excess of centre-halves, I am not sure.

“I like Flint but we will only pay what we feel. If he is too expensive we will move on.”

Redknapp has already shored up the middle of his defence with the signing of Marc Roberts from Barnsley, but wants to add another player in the position, while speculation over Ryan Shotton’s future rumbles on.

Shotton has been the subject of a bid from Middlesbrough, which Blues rejected, but the Teessiders are considering a second offer.

Bryan, aged 23, is regarded as one of the most promising left-sided full-backs in the Championship.

He came through Bristol’s youth academy and has played 181 games for the club since making his debut in 2011.