Coventry City are not giving up hope in their pursuit of out-of-contract Leicester City midfielder Matty James but, as it stands, Bristol City remain the most likely destination for the 29-year-old.
James is a free agent at the end of this month and has been wanted by Nigel Pearson long before the 2020/21 season drew to a close with the manager admitting last weekend he plans to create a new spine for his Robins team.
James spent three years working under Pearson at the King Power Stadium but fell out of contention amid devastating injury issues and enjoyed a fine loan spell at Coventry over the second half of last season.
The Sky Blues would dearly love to bring him back to the Midlands on a permanent basis and, as reported by Coventry Live, are still in discussions with the player's representatives.
Coventry are struggling to compete with the financial package being offered by City, plus the draw for the midfielder of working under Pearson again.
The Daily Mail have also claimed Cardiff City and Swansea City are keen on the former Manchester United trainee, with the latter also looking to sign out-of-contract Robins midfielder Liam Walsh - coincidentally another one-time Coventry loanee who they also would also like to bring in on a permanent deal.
Unlike Coventry, the south Wales club could present a similar salary to their neighbours down the M4 with Cardiff already having brought striker James Collins to the capital despite interest across the Championship.
Football Insider reported on Wednesday that City were in "advanced talks" with James and his former Leicester teammate Andy King, who is also a free agent, but Bristol Live understands that a deal isn't imminent with the expectation that James' future is more likely to be resolved next week.
Sources have indicated that a move for King could be closer to a resolution, with less competition for the 32-year-old following his stint in Belgian football with OH Leueven.
To complete the sense of a Leicester reunion in the West Country, Danny Simpson's contract is also yet to be resolved with the full-back less than two weeks away from leaving the Robins.
Simpson has been offered a new deal and throughout the process the overall feeling within Ashton Gate has been one of confidence that the defender will sign another contract, potentially until 2022 with the option of a further 12 months, but as yet the 32-year-old's future is in limbo.
City's players have returned for pre-season physical tests and examinations over the next two days, with pre-season officially commending on June 28.
By then, Pearson would like to have Simpson's contract sorted and welcome James and/or King into the group, with the manager targeting five new faces this window: two centre-backs, two central midfielders and a striker.
