Bristol City transfer notebook: Alan Hutton's Tommy Conway claim, no deal for Karamoko Dembele

Bristol City will know their schedule for the 2024/25 season in just over a week as EFL fixture release day draws ever closer. With pre-season testing following a week later, the extended off-season period is coming to an end as the Robins squad return to the High Performance Centre.

Head coach Liam Manning and the City hierarchy are hopeful that the group contains at least one fresh face but, as it stands, they are yet to reinforce the squad from last season, in what has been a quiet start to the summer transfer window across the division.

Just 13 new signings have been confirmed into Championship clubs as a combination of the late finish of the Premier League and, to some extent, the European Championship have put a number of issues on hold.

With activity expected to increase over the coming weeks, here is the latest news concerning Bristol City…

Hutton wants Rangers to sign Conway

Former Scotland and Rangers full-back Alan Hutton believes Tommy Conway would be an ideal addition for the Scottish Premiership giants with Bristol City listening to offers for the 21-year-old.

Conway is effectively available for transfer as the Robins have grown frustrated with his refusal to sign a new contract with his present deal expiring next summer. Rangers are among the clubs to have watched the Taunton-born frontman, who is currently part of the Scotland squad at Euro 2024, along with rivals Celtic and Premier League duo Wolves and Leicester City.

Any movement is unlikely until Conway returns from Germany but Hutton, who made 122 appearances for the Gers and earned 50 Scotland caps, has been impressed.

“I really like what I’ve seen from him so far,” Hutton told Football League World. “To be honest, before he was in the Scotland squad I didn’t know too much about him. I know he scored 12 goals for Bristol City but what he does is bring something different to Rangers.

“He works ever so hard, he’s calm with the ball at his feet in front of goal, so I think he ticks a lot of boxes for Rangers, and he offers something different. I’d love to see him there, they need someone like that, so it would be interesting to see what the fee is and whether they can get it over the line or not.”

No deal for Dembele or Poku

Bristol City are yet to make an impact in the transfer market so far this summer with the desire for a striker, playmaker and winger well-publicised. Technical director Brian Tinnion revealed on the Forever Bristol City podcast that the Robins are “close” to signing a No7, understood to be the latter position and, as a result, rumours have been rife as to the identity of the mystery wideman.

Peterborough United’s Kwame Poku and Karamoko Dembele of Ligue 1 side Brest, who spent last season on loan at Blackpool in League One, are two of the names that have been circulated, largely on social media, but Bristol Live understands neither are the unnamed player who the club are close to signing.

Given their performances last season, as Poku scored 11 goals and added seven assists and Dembele produced nine and 13 for the Tangerines, both have been watched by the Robins - as should be expected - but neither is thought to be an immediate target.

In the case of Poku, Peterborough are understood to be wanting £5m plus add-ons to part with the 22-year-old, who still has another year to run on his contract, while the £500,000 figure mentioned in association with Dembele is vastly underplaying what Brest value the 21-year-old.

Wrexham want Morrell

Joe Morrell could be denied an Ashton Gate homecoming this season with the Portsmouth midfielder wanted by League One Wrexham. Morrell played an influential role in Pompey’s League One title campaign but the club have neglected to take up the 12-month option in his contract and instead want to restructure terms with the Robins academy graduate.

As a result, the 27-year-old is available as a free agent and the Portsmouth News report Wrexham are among the clubs who have shown an interest in the Wales international, who would represent something of a marquee coup for the Welsh club. The Sun's Phil Cadden has further added QPR and Birmingham City into the mix.

Bradley Stoke-raised Morrell, who made six appearances for City from 2013 to 2020, after making his debut aged 16, missed the last three months of the 2024/25 season after undergoing knee surgery, which he is continuing to recover from.

SIGN UP: For our daily Robins newsletter, bringing you the latest from Ashton Gate