Football
Exclusive: Wrexham & Birmingham Eye Bristol City Star Vyner in January Swoop
Bristol City's Zac Vyner is drawing interest from Championship clubs Wrexham and Birmingham, despite the club's reluctance to sell. The defender is out of contract this summer, with potential suitors offering bids from £1-£3 million. Hollywood-backed Wrexham and Birmingham are hopeful to secure Vyner's talents and strengthen their defensive line.
Bristol City v Norwich City - Sky Bet Championship by Ryan Hiscott | Getty Images
Zak Vyner is under scrutiny again with a number of Championship clubs considering a late transfer window swoop for the Bristol City favourite, SportsBoom can exclusively reveal.
Big spending Wrexham and Birmingham are understood to be casting an envious eye again on the 28-year-old defender’s situation.
City have previously said Vyner, who joined the club’s Academy, aged 10, is not for sale at any price.
But their star defender is out of contract this summer and the West Country club risk losing him for nothing.
However, they will be loathed to sell him to play-off rivals. Prior to the latest round of second tier fixtures, Bristol sat ninth-on the same number of points as Phil Parkinson’s Red Dragons with Birmingham 14th on the ladder.
Wrexham had two bids rejected last summer when the Ashton Gate Academy graduated was valued at between £2-£3 million.
Bristol City offered Vyner a new contract last August, but no update has emerged since, and the defender is unlikely to sign unless his demands are met, something Wrexham could accommodate.
HOLLYWOOD POWER
Money is no object to the Hollywood rivals who are desperate to remain upwardly mobile and reach the promised land of the Premier League.
Only four clubs in the Championship have conceded fewer goals with even leaders Coventry letting in more than Gerhard Struber’s side.
And centre back Vyner’s contribution to City’s defensive solidity can’t be downplayed.
A more palatable option if the Robins decide to cash in on their talisman would be to Derby County who made a cut price offer of £1 million last summer.
A move to the continent is another possible destination for the talented Londoner who is the Robins’ all-time Championship appearance record breaker.
Belgian side Gent expressed interest last year though it is thought Vyner, who qualifies to represent Kenya internationally, is not seeking to uproot his career to that extent.
However, he will be 29 in May and looking for a major contract uplift prior to hitting his 30’s.
Neil has been a journalist for longer than he'd care to remember, having written for national newspapers and respected publications for over 25 years. For the last three years he has worked freelance for BBC Sport, working on the production desk as a sub-editor and also as a writer, covering a whole range of sports.