Yahoo News Campbell, Weimann, Cafu - Every Championship player released so far as retained lists announced
Andreas Weimann is among the more high profile Championship players confirmed as a free agent this summer.
Weimann, aged 32, is currently on loan at West Bromwich Albion and will be involved in today's play-off semi-final first leg at home against Southampton (2.15pm). He left Bristol City in January when it was clear he wasn't going to get his deal extended beyond this season and is now in the market for a new club.
BristolLive explained at the time: "Weimann has increasingly found himself on the periphery of Liam Manning’s first XI and with less than six months remaining on his contract in BS3, City have ultimately secured some value in the forward, rather than watch him depart for nothing in the summer while having to pay his salary for the remainder of his stay."
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Weimann has chipped in with two goals and two assists in four starts and eight substitute appearances since switching to the Hawthorns and he has been used across midfield and attack.
Midfielder Matty James is also leaving Bristol City while talks are ongoing with Joe Williams and Romani Rowe. Midfielder Williams, aged 27, has been a key figure this season and "surely won’t be short of offers elsewhere in the Championship". He came through the ranks at Everton and has built a reputation as a 'ruthless competitor'.
Stoke have addressed the contract situation of players around the first team squad. Tyrese Campbell is the big name departure. The 24-year-old striker had been with the Potters since the age of 16, when he joined from Manchester City, and he has shown an ability to change games in the Championship. Ciaran Clark and Wesley depart.
Sam Clucas is leaving Rotherham after a season. The 33-year-old midfielder has played 32 times, scoring once and setting up two, in what proved a difficult year for the Millers. Steve Evans joined in the final week of the season as their third manager and they had long been relegated to League One by that point.
Ten other players are to be released too, including defenders Sean Morrison, Lee Peltier, Grant Hall and Tyler Blackett and midfielders Cafu and Shane Ferguson.
Coventry were one of the first to confirm their retained list. Liam Kelly is leaving after playing such a key role since 2017 as well as keeper Simon Moore. Talks are ongoing to try to extend the stays of Callum O'Hare and Luke Bell.
City boss Mark Robins said of the playmaker after the final-day defeat to QPR: “I have just said in the dressing room, I’m not going to give up on you. But we started laughing and I know that he’s probably going to choose somewhere else to go."
He also said of O'Hare: “Who knows, Callum may turn around at the end of this season, although I doubt it, and say he wants to stay. But we don’t know yet. It’s one of those things where we can hope, but whatever happens we will look to improve where we can.”
Championship retained lists
Bristol City
Released: Matty James, Andy King, Andreas Weimann, Ben Acey, Zac Bell, McIntosh Boyd, Marlee Francois, Callum Hutton, Duncan Idehen, Dylan Kadji, Harry Leeson, Harvey Wiles-Richards
In talks: Joe Williams, Romani Rowe
Coventry City
Released: Liam Kelly, Simon Moore, Dermi Lusala, Bradley Stretton
In talks: Callum O'Hare, Luke Bell
Rotherham United
Released: Cafu, Curtis Durose, Grant Hall, Joel Holvey, Lee Peltier, Nat Ford, Sam Clucas, Sean Morrison, Shane Ferguson, Tolaji Bola, Tyler Blackett
In talks: Jamie Lindsay
Stoke City
Released: Tyrese Campbell, Ciaran Clark, Wesley
In talks: Enda Stevens
Extended: Jordan Thompson, Frank Fielding
