Johnson and Ashton on the transfer window

FLINT "£6M BID" REFUTED

Asked about speculation regarding a £6m bid from Brighton & Hove Albion for Aden Flint, Johnson said: “The last conversation we had from them is that their interest (in Aden) is over.”

Chief executive Ashton spoke to BBC Radio Bristol early on Saturday and refuted the £6m figure, originally reported by Sky Sports News.

He added: “We’ve had queries for our players, but the owner says we don’t have to sell and that’s important. We’re trying to build here at Bristol City.

“What will happen in the final days of the window? We may have to brace ourselves but we don’t want to let any of our key players go. As things stand, hand on heart, I can say we are not in any transfer discussions about our current first team players.

“At the moment Diony is our final addition and it’s highly unlikely we’ll bring in any more. However, I’m too long in the tooth to say definitely because it’s the transfer window and you never know what can happen.”

City’s chief executive confirmed the club has already agreed a fee with Saint-Etienne for the permanent services of French striker Diony, should they wish to take up the option of turning the loan deal into a full-time transfer in the summer.

Ashton added that the fee would “be up there” with the largest paid by the club, with Famara Diédhiou’s £5.3m fee paid to Angers in June being the record to date.

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