Reports say that we’re chasing Bristol City defender Aden Flint and face competition from Birmingham City. But his current club deny they have received any bids for the player.
The 6ft 6in centre-back has made 200 appearances for Bristol City since he joined them from Swindon Town in 2013, and played every single league game last season. And during this time he has scored 29 goals, including a hat-trick against Walsall two years ago.
He is described as "dominant at the back” and "hugely impressive”, so he could be just the man we need to fill the Kyle Bartley sized hole we currently have in the heart of our defence. But as he’s already 28 years old, I can’t help thinking that if he’s that good he’d have been playing for a bigger club than Brizzle by now.
Press Association Sport are claiming that Leeds and Birmingham are interested in Flint, but this has been denied by his current manager Lee Johnson. Speaking of speculation surrounding Flint and left back Joe Bryan he said "We haven’t had any bids. It’s not always conducive to the players’ focus, but they’re two good lads and there’s nothing in it.”
We would need to cough up a significant fee to tempt the Ashton Gate mob to part with Flint, as he signed a new contact last December and his current deal runs to the summer of 2020. And other reports are suggesting that at the moment Leeds are some way short of City’s valuation of the player.
But our transfer kitty was boosted today after we came to an agreement with Burnley over the amount of compensation payable for Charlie Taylor, so the clubs will avoid the need to go to a tribunal. The size of the fee is officially ‘undisclosed’, but is thought to be around £6-7million.
So it’s possible that we may come back with a better offer for Flint. Watch this space.