Bristol City are still weighing up strikers as they assess the market with the Robins aiming to recruit that fifth permanent signing that manager Nigel Pearson has requested.
Bristol Live reported on Thursday that a deal is close to being agreed for central defender Rob Atkinson of Oxford United who the West Country outfit are confident of recruiting.
Talks for the 22-year-old are going well and he could soon join Nathan Baker among City's central defensive options. That would see Pearson's desire for two centre-backs quenched.
The Robins have already snapped up midfielder Matty James and have the second midfielder they want in the building.
Former Leicester City man Andy King continues to train at the Robins High Performance Centre with Bristol Live still expecting a move to go through this summer, as reported previously.
City are eager to make sure that King is fit enough for Championship football after he played just 18 minutes of league first-team football last campaign, with a solitary appearance as a substitute at Belgian side OH Leuven in the Jupiler First Division.
The club are eager to make sure that he retains the hunger to make a contribution at Ashton Gate. A move is not a given but if all works well then King should be handed a short-term deal to further strengthen the middle of City's team.
Striker search
That would just leave City looking for a centre-forward to complete their transfer business for permanent signings, though as Pearson has explained previously the club may yet turn to the loan market. There are several young players from the academy who could remain with the senior set-up for the forthcoming campaign however, who will be assessed first.
Bristol City are remaining patient to bring in the right forward although the market is now beginning to move, with rivals Middlesbrough close to signing a second striker of the window in Wycombe's Uche Ikpeazu to complement Sammy Ameobi arriving this week.
City remain interested in Michael Smith of Rotherham United and free agent Joe Pigott but the West Country outfit are not considering a move for experienced forward Hal Robson-Kanu, as things stand.
The experienced Wales international is available on a free transfer this summer after departing from the Hawthorns as a five-year stay in the West Midlands drew to a close. Stoke City's Sam Vokes was offered to City earlier in the window too.
City can bide their time to land the right man and perhaps chairman Jon Lansdown gave a hint last week, as we spoke to him following the announcement of the next season's fixtures.
"It's always going to be an odd time, this window, because you're going to have agents that don't tell their players the reality. That's going to cause a timing thing where everyone's waiting for someone else to move first," he told Bristol Live.
"I think we've done well in getting a few things done early which we're very happy with. Normally, you want to get things done as soon as you can so you can get the group together and get them up to fitness.
"I'm sure there will be some good opportunities late as well. We're not going to rush into everything but we've got our targets and luckily we've managed to get a good number done early," explained Lansdown.
But the Robins are in talks with a League One side over the sale of one young player that may be completed this week, and more permanent departures could be sanctioned further down the line as the nucleus of Pearson's side begins to take shape across pre-season.
Those to be short of first-team action will be allowed to depart. City have been conducting further contract re-negotiations however and are set to tie down some more young talents soon.
