Football Millers Smith on City’s radar
ROTHERHAM’S Michael Smith is among the strikers being considered by Bristol City manager Nigel Pearson as he looks to add a frontman in the summer transfer window, writes Gregor MacGregor.
Bristol City hope to sign a striker this summer with a focus on a central targetman, similar to Famara Diedhiou with the Senegalese having failed to agree a new contract and leaving the club on a free transfer at the end of this month.
Smith is attracting interest across the Championship following a solid season in which he scored 10 goals in 44 appearances for the relegated Millers.
Teeside Live have reported that Middlesbrough manager Neil Warnock is a long-term admirer of the 29-year-old with Boro in even greater need for forwards as Britt Assombalonga and Ashley Fletcher are out of contract and Chupa Akpom is also set to leave.
But City are also considering a move for Smith, with Rotherham’s descent into League One reducing his value and increasing pressure on the club to sell as he has just 12 months remaining on his contract.
Speaking last month, Rotherham assistant manager Richie Barker said: “You have conversations with people in the game all the time. Smudge’s name crops up as one of those who have had successful Championship seasons.
“In terms of, have we had any concrete bids or anyone ringing up and making an offer for him? No.
“In fairness, I would expect Smudge to be on a lot of people’s lists. It is how high up the list he is and how much they are willing to pay for him, I suppose.”
The 6ft 3ins Smith spent the season for Rotherham either as a lone targetman in a 3-5-1-1, or alongside the more mobile Freddie Ladapo. Among all Championship players in 2020/21, he was second to Cardiff’s Kieffer Moore for aerial duels won (7.0).
He has spent most of his career in League One, including two seasons with Swindon Town 2014-2016, but was a regular for Rotherham in their two Championship campaigns in 2018/19 and 2020/21.
Jerry Yates has been on the Robins’ watchlist for several months but Blackpool’s promotion may have complicated any potential deal for the forward as the 24-yearold’s price-tag is likely to have risen significantly.
The Post’s website Bristol Live understands Pearson is working with a modest transfer budget akin to last summer and the manager’s
claim that the Robins will have to be “creative” in the market is a reflection of that.
AFC Wimbledon’s Joe Pigott is another striker who has been under consideration with the 27-year-old, who very nearly became a Bristol Rovers player last summer, out of contract and looking for a Championship move. Multiple reports also claimed that City were in the race for Luton’s James Collins, along with Middlesbrough, but the Republic of Ireland international elected to join Severnside rivals Cardiff City. A report in TEAMtalk on Tuesday also named Charlton forward Chuks Aneke as another player being considered by City, Middlesbrough and Coventry City.