Bristol City offer new deals to Vyner and Mehmeti

Bristol City technical director Brian Tinnion has revealed the club have offered new contracts to Anis Mehmeti and Zak Vyner.

Defender Vyner, 28, is closing on 250 City appearances since joining from Aberdeen in 2020 while former Wycombe winger Mehmeti, 24, has scored 21 goals in 116 appearances since arriving in 2022 and was their top-scorer last season.

At a Fan's Forum at Ashton Gate on Wednesday, Robins legend Tinnion joined CEO Tom Rawcliffe, head coach Gerhard Struber and defender Rob Dickie to take questions from supporters, many of whom were concerned about the possibility of the squad being broken up as contracts expire and with financial restrictions on incomings.

After it was revealed vice-captain Dickie had signed a two-year extension to stay at Ashton Gate until 2028, Tinnion added: "I think it's really important if we can't invest, that we keep the squad together.

"We have secured Rob, we have offered Zak Vyner a new contract, Anis Mehmeti has been offered a new contract and we've been in talks last week about extending a few who have two years left.

"We are looking to keep this squad together because it's a really good group of players. If we can't invest we have to try and keep what we have got until we can sell them on to reinvest."

Rawcliffe also revealed the club had enquired about signing Manchester United keeper Radek Vitek on a permanent deal when they signed him on a season-long loan in July.

Rawcliffe said: "He signed a new contract there in the summer. They have a right to recall him, we hope that isn't the case but that clause is in there.

"We asked about taking him permanently but were very quickly rebuffed. He's settled in really well, for a 21-year-old keeper we're really pleased."

Tinnion also admitted the club's strikers "have got to start firing" before the January transfer window, otherwise City might need to look at making moves.

Emil Riis has scored four goals in his first nine appearances since signing from Preston but no other forward has scored this season.

Sinclair Armstrong has found the net just three times in 48 appearances since joining on a four-year deal, while fellow 2024 recruit Fally Mayulu has been out of the first-team picture for long spells.

"We chose to keep Sinclair Armstrong [last January] and he's working very hard but if it doesn't work, if Gerhard decides (players) aren't going to make the impact we want, then we'll look at it again in January," Tinnion said.

"The Championship is a really tough division to get game time to develop players."

Struber also told fans some academy players were "knocking on the door" of the first team including under-18s forward Leo Pecover, who has been training with the squad.