Bristol City are closing in on the signing of Forest Green Rovers wing-back Kane Wilson, in what would represent another significant transfer coup of the summer for Nigel Pearson.
Bristol Live understands that personal terms have been agreed and the deal should be confirmed in the next 48 hours after Wilson picked City ahead of a host of Championship clubs. He would follow Mark Sykes and Kal Naismith to Ashton Gate as the Robins are making some eye-catching early business in the market.
Wilson played an integral role in Forest Green’s promotion last season scoring three goals and adding 13 assists as the 22-year-old was named League Two Player of the Year.
With his contract at New Lawn expiring, and Forest Green accepting that their star man will be moving on, he’s been one of the most sought-after free agents in the EFL and, as was the case with Naismith’s move from Luton, City have moved ahead of a host of clubs in the race to secure his signature.
As reported by Bristol Live last month, Wilson has been taken with the Robins due to a number of factors.
First and foremost, the promise of regular Championship football. City under Pearson have developed a strong reputation as a team that will give consistent first-team minutes to young players, whether they be from the academy or signed from elsewhere, as was the case last season with Rob Atkinson and George Tanner.
Wilson is also happy in the West Country following his move from West Brom to Gloucestershire in 2020, while the Robins High Performance Centre continues to be a strong selling point when attracting new players to the club.
His arrival will address a position of need for Pearson who used teenage midfielder Alex Scott as a right wing-back for much of last season following Tanner’s two hamstring injuries. Tanner has been considered as a more orthodox right-back who needs time to develop into an attacking role.
A product of West Brom’s academy, Wilson was earmarked as one of the club’s brightest talents in his mid-teens but after a series of loans to Exeter, Walsall and Tranmere he was unable to make the breakthrough at The Hawthorns.
His move to Forest Green two years ago gave him a platform to earn first-team football and when Rob Edwards was appointed at New Lawn last summer it accelerated his progression as one of the most exciting prospects outside of the Premier League.
A number of League One clubs had declared their wish to sign Wilson but he's always looked destined for the Championship. Nottingham Forest had watched him extensively in the second half of last season but their promotion to the Premier League via the play-offs has meant they are now focusing on other targets.
Birmingham City were another interested party, as were Watford, now home to Wilson's former boss Edwards, but the Hornets' summer transfer priorities are said to be further up the pitch and the head coach has a reduced say in transfer strategy at Vicarage Road under owner Gino Pozzo and sporting director Cristiano Giaretta.
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