Bristol City are close to agreeing a new deal with key striker Famara Diedhiou.
Talks between the Senegalese forward's representatives and CEO Mark Ashton have been going on for some time and now head coach Dean Holden has spoken on the matter.
Discussing the situation in a radio interview with BBC Radio Bristol on Saturday afternoon, Holden explained that he is hopeful that talks are rounded off.
Diedhiou himself has also made his feelings known, echoing Arsenal striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in tweeting an hourglass symbol, with the Gunners forward believed to be close to signing a new deal in north London too.
"The truth is that the football club love Fam and we’d love him to stay," explained Holden on Saturday afternoon.
"I’ve had discussions with Fam in the last week face to face and over the phone, telling him that we’re desperate for him to stay.
"The truth of it is that Mark Ashton has been in contact with his agent for a a long time now - he’s got good relationships with them. That’s been ongoing for a long time now.
"He’s going into the last year of his contract and he’s right to look at other options but he feels - and he was emphatic to me a couple of days ago - that he wants to stay.
"He loves the club, he loves where he lives, and he loves the way that we work. All in all we’re hoping that he’ll sign a new contract and stay with us."
Bristol Live understands that the club were unaware of Diedhiou's tweet on Thursday that sparked supporters feverishly believing that a new deal is close to happening.
Also that an outcome is close to being agreed with news expected possibly early next week.
If all the loose ends are wrapped up and interest from clubs abroad seen off, it could be a huge boost for City ahead of the new season.
