Bristol City are considering a loan move for Leicester City centre-back Ben Nelson before Friday’s transfer deadline, Bristol Live understands, as Robins head coach Liam Manning looks to reinforce his defence for the 2024/25 season.
Manning has long been conscious that while City are strong in terms of personnel in defence, with and Kal Naismith, Hayden Roberts and the fit-again Rob Atkinson as cover, plus right-back George Tanner as further cover, there is an element of risk within this group.
Although Naismith was involved throughout pre-season and has played 129 minutes this term across all three fixtures, hasn’t started a game in the Championship since November last year due to calf and hamstring injuries and has made 23 and nine league starts in his two seasons at the club.
Atkinson’s senior absence has been even longer, dating back to his ACL sustained in February 2023 followed by hamstring and then groin issues during his recovery over the last eight months. The defender has trained with the first-team since last week and played 45 minutes for the Under-21s on Monday in a 2-0 win over Crewe Alexandra but there is understandable concern around his durability for the campaign ahead.
Naismith, Atkinson and the talented Roberts are all left-sided centre-back options as well, leaving City potentially exposed on the right should any serious problems beset Vyner or Dickie, a point highlighted by sustained against Coventry City on Saturday.
How long the 28-year-old will be out for is unclear, but Manning has long coveted another option in that part of the field and Nelson is an option for the Robins with Steve Cooper keen to send the England Under-20 international out to earn some game time and hopefully accelerate his development.
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