Exclusive: Bristol City keen on Croatian striker who has twice turned down Nottingham Forest

Bristol City have held talks with Dinamo Zagreb over a move for striker Sandro Kulenovic, Bristol Live understands, as the Robins look to add two forwards to their squad this summer.

A deal for the tall Croatian is not thought to be close but there is a hope an agreement can be reached for the 24-year-old who has been capped at every level for his country from Under-14 to Under-23.

Kulenovic has long been linked with a move to England, having twice been close to joining Nottingham Forest, rejecting a transfer to the City Ground in 2023 to remain in his homeland, stating: "If I’m going to leave Dinamo, the team must be at the top level. Nottingham doesn’t mean much to me.”

Kulenovic also turned down a move to Barnsley earlier in his career when the Tykes were a Championship club.

Forest had agreed a £2.5million deal previously, but with one year remaining on his contract at the Stadion Maksimir, that valuation is likely to have fallen, especially as Kulenovic wasn’t a regular first-team player last season making nine starts in the league with a further 14 off the bench.

Kulenovic is a product of the Dinamo Zagreb academy, and even spent time in the Juventus youth set-up and Legia Warsaw in Poland, and over 108 games in the Croatian top flight he’s found the target 37 times and recorded 14 assists.

A tall and mobile frontman, he fits the brief desired by City to lead their frontline and offer something different from Nahki Wells and Tommy Conway, with the latter likely to be sold over the next two months due to his expiring contract.

He could also form part of a new-look Robins attack which will include young French forward Fally Mayulu, who underwent a medical at the High Performance Centre on Friday evening. The 21-year-old should be unveiled as a City player this week, compleing his move from Rapid Vienna, as the players return to the grass at Failand having spent last Thursday and Friday undergoing pre-season testing.

Head coach Liam Manning would ideally want a few new faces through the door before City embark on their training camp in Portugal later this week.

Discussions remain ongoing with Burnley for playmaker Scott Twine with the possibility for both a loan and permanent transfer, while City would also like to add Mali forward Lassine Sinayoko but Auxerre’s refusal to budge over their £4m price tag is likely to see the Robins look elsewhere.

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