Bristol City will attempt to complete the signing of much-travelled striker Jon Stead in the next couple of days. Championship rivals Ipswich Town have accepted a bid of between £200,000 and £250,000 and the transfer is now subject to Stead, pictured right, passing a medical and agreeing personal terms. The former England Under-21 star's agent is expected at Ashton Gate today for talks with Robins chief executive Colin Sexstone and, if a broad agreement can be reached, Stead will meet City manager Steve Coppell tomorrow to seal the deal. Despite the clubs agreeing a fee, Stead's financial demands could yet prove a sticking point and the ex-Blackburn, Sunderland and Sheffield United striker will almost certainly have to take a pay cut if he moves to Bristol. In what is expected to be a busy week of transfer activity at Ashton Gate, Coppell also hopes to recruit a Premier League right-back with more than 100 top-flight appearances to his name.
Bristol Evening Post

Steve Coppell spoke openly of the need to bolster a depleted squad after witnessing his team's latest futile attempt to compete with lower-league opposition. If nothing else, City's abject surrender at the Recreation Ground - their second defeat to League Two opposition in three days - confirmed the pressing requirement for new recruits and served to bring the manager's dealings in the transfer market into sharp focus. Already deprived of several players through injury, Coppell's options are about to be further reduced by the defection of midfielder Paul Hartley and right-back Bradley Orr, both of whom are expected to follow already-departed centre-back Jamie McCombe out of Ashton Gate in the next few days. Given that the situation seems likely to become worse before it gets better, Coppell's quest to sign Championship-standard replacements has assumed a palpable urgency and he is working assiduously behind the scenes to bring in a striker and a right-back by the end of this week.
Bristol Evening Post

West Brom and Bristol City are trying to hijack Burnley's bid for Sheffield Wednesday keeper Lee Grant. Burnley finally agreed a fee with Wednesday for Grant over the weekend as Brian Laws looks to lure the highly-rated keeper to Turf Moor. Wednesday are resigned to losing the 27-year-old following their relegation from the Championship last season. However, they could have a bidding war for Grant with West Brom and Bristol City now entering the race for the former Derby man.
Sky Sports

Bristol City are resigned to losing both Bradley Orr and Paul Hartley on the eve of the new Championship season. Full-back Orr, 27, seems bound for QPR while 33-year-old Scotland international midfielder Hartley has been linked with Hearts and Aberdeen. "It looks like Bradley will be leaving the club," boss Steve Coppell said.
BBC Sport

Hearts have confirmed they have dropped out of the running to bring Paul Hartley back to Tynecastle. The Edinburgh side had been leading the chase to bring the Bristol City midfielder back to Scottish football this summer. However, in a surprise twist they have now cooled their interest in the 33-year-old, although they remain keen on signing a midfielder.
Sky Sports