Bristol City are interested in signing Portuguese full-back Pedro Pereira again for this coming season - as they look to strengthen in the right-back position.
However Pereira is only one of several options that the Robins are considering as they look to recruit someone to compete with Jack Hunt for a place in Dean Holden's team.
As reported by Bristol Live earlier this week, Steven Sessegnon is another option while Jazz Richards has been linked as well, with the former Cardiff City defender able to cover on both sides of the pitch.
An open dialogue has been maintained with Benfica as City assess what is the best option for them. CEO Mark Ashton has explained previously that the club often has several plates spinning as they look to recruit in a certain position. "I would never put all my eggs in one basket," said Ashton to Bristol Live last December.
"What we do is we carry options in all positions, not just the positions we're looking at. So, if something happens, we're always in the game for what's available," he said.
Pereira made 14 Championship starts and another seven from the bench last season and ended the campaign in good form. An agreed fee of more than £5m to turn the loan permanent will not be shelled out by City though and any deal must be done on more realistic terms or the Robins will turn elsewhere.
Bristol City are also currently in the transfer market for another centre-back - one to play on the left of a back three - and a potential injury for centre-back Nathan Baker may intensify the focus of the Ashton Gate hierarchy to recruit another player in that position.
Baker was withdrawn early in the friendly against Aston Villa on Wednesday afternoon, however the early signs were that it was not a serious blow.
Meanwhile, Tyreeq Bakinson looks set to stay at Bristol City for the next few weeks at least, as Joe Morrell joins the Wales squad and with Joe Williams injured currently - with no timescale put on a return to action for City's new midfield signing just yet. That means Bakinson is in line to play the holding midfield role against the Grecians in the Carabao Cup in a week's time, as he did against Cheltenham seven days ago.
A potential loan elsewhere for former Luton Town starlet Bakinson may depend on the severity of Williams' injury.
City are in the process of setting up loans for their young players with several already agreed for next week that will be coupled with contract extensions.
Although young goalkeeper Will Buse is due to join up with Dorchester Town imminently, in a switch that has seen the non-League side set up a friendly game against a Robins XI too.
That game takes place tonight (28 August) with a young side expected to head down to the Avenue Stadium on Friday.
