Bristol City defender Tomas Kalas is emerging as a summer target for Championship rivals Stoke City as the Czech Republic centre-back enters the final year of his contract at Ashton Gate.
The Mail on Sunday report that Stoke are "monitoring" Kalas' situation at City as Michael O'Neill wants a dominating centre-back following the departure of Nathan Collins to Burnley.
Former City head coach Dean Holden is O’Neill’s No2 at the bet365 Stadium and it wouldn’t be the first time the Potters were interested in one of the Robins’ premier players, as they came close to signing Andi Weimann last summer before he signed a three-year contract in BS3.
Kalas is a free agent next summer and this transfer window, which officially opens on June 10, is the last opportunity City have to receive a transfer fee for the 29-year-old who has made 105 appearance since signing on a permanent deal from Chelsea in 2019 for what was a club record transfer fee.
Bristol Live understands there have been no formal discussions over extending his agreement as yet, although Kalas has publicly admitted he would like to stay in the West Country.
He is one of 18 first-team players who are out of contract next summer, which puts the Robins in an interesting situation. On the one hand, he is a key player who has been a near-automatic starter when fit who likely has several seasons ahead of him.
But he is City’s highest-earner with Nigel Pearson speaking last month of a desire to achieve some sense of wage parity, and the club need to further reduce their salary levels to help meet the EFL’s Profit & Sustainability obligations for next season. It would be perfectly understandable for City to assess what sort of market is out there for Kalas before making a decision on his long-term future in BS3.
City have also already boosted their centre-back ranks this summer with the arrival of Kal Naismith on a free transfer from Luton Town, while Timm Klose has signed a new one-year contract with the option of a further 12 months based on appearances.
The Robins have 10 centre-backs under first-team consideration but that list does include Robbie Cundy who, as it stands, is yet to sign the new contract he was offered at the end of last season, youngsters Ryley Towler and Duncan Idehen, who could be set for loan spells, and Nathan Baker whose future is uncertain following two separate concussions last term.
Kalas is currently recovering from an operation undertaken at the end of last season after a groin injury which kept him out of City’s final 10 games of the 2021/22 season. He did not link up with the Czech Republic squad for their Nations League fixtures this month but is expected to report for pre-season training.
Kalas spent some of his post-season holiday in Dubai with City captain Dan Bentley, who is also out of contract next summer and in a similar situation to his close friend.
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