City reportedly battling it out with Birmingham for striker Wickham
BRISTOL City are reportedly going head-to-head with Birmingham City to secure the services of Crystal Palace forward Connor Wickham, with the future of Famara Diedhiou in doubt.
That’s according to The Sun on Sunday who have linked the former England Under-21 striker with Dean Holden’s side.
The Robins have been linked with the 27-year-old on several occasions over the past few years, with Lee Johnson reportedly coming close to adding the frontman to his roster last season, though Nahki Wells ended up being the striker brought in by the play-off chasing
Reds. After ending up at Sheffield Wednesday, Wickham scored just twice in 13 appearances for the Owls, though one of them was a header against Bristol City at Ashton Gate to put the Yorkshire side ahead in a game they would go on to win 2-1, piling the pressure on then-head coach Johnson.
Wickham has yet to feature for Crystal Palace this season, though Dean Holden’s side are said to have monitored the fitness of the former Sunderland man closely ahead of a potential transfer. Indeed, since he signed for Palace in 2015, Wickham has missed 96 games due to various injuries, with calf injuries proving particularly problematic for the exEngland youth forward.
Famara Diedhiou’s future at City remains uncertain, as, despite regular hints on social media over putting pen-to-paper on a new deal, progress has stalled, with the Senegalese frontman’s contract expiring in the summer. Middlesbrough are one side taking an interest in the forward.
Wickham is of a similar mould to Diedhiou, known for possessing impressive hold-up play, though his track record of scoring is some way off that of Diedhiou.
Having never hit double figures for goals in his career, Wickham’s highest-scoring season remains the nine he bagged while playing for Ipswich Town in the 2010-11 campaign.
His full Championship record reads 24 goals in 100 appearances.
City have been blunt in front of goal in recent weeks, having scored just four goals in their past seven league fixtures, something the hierarchy at Ashton Gate will be looking to improve upon. Could Wickham be the man to do that?
With just six months remaining on his deal at Selhurst Park, the frontman would provide a cutprice option for Holden’s side, with injuries preventing him from really making an impact in South London. Diedhiou, meanwhile, scored in City’s 2-1 win over Portsmouth yesterday to remind the Robins of what he offers, with contract talks continuing.