Former Foxes midfielder could be close to joining Robins
BRISTOL City are beginning preparations for their 2021/22 season as Nigel Pearson takes charge of his first full campaign.
Players returned for pre-season training during last week with Pearson threatening that anyone failing to make the grade on physical requirements would be in again this week.
It is understood that all the players passed the physical tests however, and although pre-season starts officially next Monday, some have voluntarily returned to Failand this week to continue working on their fitness.
And one of those players includes former Leicester City midfielder Andy King, who is a free agent following his release at Belgian side OH Leuven. He has been training at the Robins High Performance Centre, undergoing the dreaded bleep test in the past few days.
A deal with Bristol City is a possibility if King can prove his fitness and terms agreed.
He could become Pearson’s first signing if all goes smoothly, although the Robins will be careful to spend their money wisely and will only commit to a contract if they are sure that the player has the hunger to succeed in the West Country. Short term moves for veterans Chris Brunt, Danny Simpson and Ashley Williams have resulted in mixed results in recent seasons.
King, 32, perhaps suggested something may be close himself at the weekend as he posted several pictures in tribute to his dad on Father’s Day, including one with himself wearing a Bristol City away shirt.
King, a schoolboy City fan from a family of Robins supporters, has 414 professional appearances under his belt and has been capped 50 times by Wales. He last played in the Championship in the 2019/20 season for Huddersfield making 14 appearances on loan from the Foxes before he left the King Power Stadium after 12 years, and he could become one of two central midfielders that Pearson has asked the Bristol City board for.
The Robins manager is keen to add two centre-backs, two central midfielders and a striker.
King’s signing fits a similar profile to when Brunt was signed by Dean Holden last summer with Pearson looking to bring greater leadership and experience, not just to the midfield but the dressing room and club as a whole.
The Barnstaple-born midfielder, if a deal is completed, will join a complement of central midfielders which also features Tyreeq Bakinson, Adam Nagy, Han-Noah Massengo, Joe Williams and James Morton, however the average age of that quintet is 22.6, with Nagy the
senior player having just turned 26.
Pearson’s early activity has been very much to mimic the Leicester copybook with King preceded by full-back Simpson, who is expected to agree a new contract, and head of medical Dave Rennie. Matty James could yet arrive too.
King and, hopefully, James would therefore provide greater experience and a sense of Championship nous within that department, raising standards and maintain a sense of professionalism across the club.
All players have returned to Failand now for initial testing, apart from Nahki Wells, Kasey Palmer, Adam Nagy and Tomas Kalas, with the quartet given extended time away due to international involvement with their countries. Striker Louis Britton is one player not training as he manages a knee ligament injury.
Forest Green Rovers have announced the signing of Opi Edwards on a one-year-deal from Bristol City. The 21-year-old makes the move to Nailsworth after leaving Ashton Gate this summer. He started his career with the Bristol Inner City Academy before linking with up the Robins youth-squad in 2015. He made his debut in the FA Cup under Lee Johnson in 2018 and appeared four times in the league during the previous campaign. Loan spells with Bath City, Solihull Moors and Torquay United followed throughout his City career.