Bristol City have lost talisman Anis Mehmeti to Championship rivals Ipswich Town for a fee of around £3m.
Bristol City have seen steady improvement from Mehmeti since his arrival in January 2023, with the Albanian winger delivering stronger performances season after season.
He emerged as Gerhard Struber’s key attacking outlet and a driving force behind their current promotion push, with the Robins sitting 11th and just three points off the play-offs.
Mehmeti was equally influential last season as Bristol City reached the play-offs. His contributions in front of goal underlined his importance to the side and highlighted his growing impact at Ashton Gate.
However, now he has moved onto Ipswich Town in a massive blow to Struber and his side. Mehmeti had been in talks over a new deal with the club but Ipswich have swooped to secure his services for just £3m.
Replacing Mehmeti will be a huge task for Bristol City who have already been left frustrated in their pursuit of forward Delano Bergzorg. However, they will be hoping to repeat their performance in signing Mehmeti when replacing him.
With that said, here are three options that the Robins should look at to replace the 25-year-old…
Tommy Watson
Watson would be a good short-term option for Bristol City to replace Mehmeti. With just over a week left in the transfer window, they may need to consider that in looking for a longer-term option ahead of the summer window.
Watson has found opportunities hard to come by since his move to Brighton. However, he impressed in his appearances with Sunderland last season, and of course scored the historic winning goal in the play-off final back in May.
The England U21 international is reportedly available for a loan move this month. Hull City, Derby County and Preston North End have been credited with interest, and Bristol City should join that race.
It is worth noting that Bristol City have also been linked with Cleary’s teammate Davis Keillor-Dunn. A double deal for the pair would be outstanding business by the Robins.
Reyes Cleary
Cleary has been one of the standout attacking players in League One this season. The 21-year-old, who spent last year on loan with Walsall and Hartlepool United, has adapted impressively to life in the third tier.
Deemed surplus to requirements by West Brom, the forward is now making a strong case against that assessment. He boosted his own reputation with an excellent performance against Liverpool in the FA Cup.
Reyes Cleary’s stats for Barnsley in League One
The Tykes are hoping to secure a play-off spot this season and will see Cleary as a very important part of that plan. However, there has been plenty of interest and with the funds acquired from Mehmeti, and also Antoine Semenyo’s sell-on clause, they should move for Cleary.
Samuel Edozie
Edozie was part of the Southampton side that secured promotion from the Championship in the 2023/24 season, playing a consistent role throughout the campaign.
The following season saw him slip down the pecking order, leading to a loan move to Belgian outfit Anderlecht. Although he was unable to nail down a regular starting spot, Edozie still featured regularly in league competition.
Edozie looked to move away from Southampton upon his return but a move did not materialise and he has not featured for the club this season.
Bristol City should look to swoop in and give him a platform to prove himself. The success of Mehmeti and Semenyo is an ideal way to show Edozie what the Robins can do for him.
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