Bristol City are among three Championship clubs being linked with a free transfer for Brazilian goalkeeper Victor Braga, according to reports.
The Robins, Sheffield United and Reading are all apparently monitoring the contract situation of the 30-year-old from Portuguese side Arouca with his deal expiring at the end of the season.
Mail Online write how Braga has "attracted interest" from City as they look to pluck out a summer bargain to help cut costs after posting losses of £38.4million.
Interestingly, he becomes the second Arouca player to be linked with a move to Bristol City within a year after Andre Silva who ultimately ended up signing a new contract with the club in October.
Braga has spent his entire career playing in Portugal and was part of the Arouca side that achieved promotion to the Portuguese top-flight last year through the play-offs. They currently fighting for survival in the Primeira Liga.
Any truth in the speculation will surely coast doubt over the futures of City's current stoppers Dan Bentley and Max O'Leary. The goalkeeping situation has been an ongoing debate this season after the former's omission from the side before Christmas.
Club captain Bentley was dropped after a 3-2 defeat to Huddersfield in December and was forced to wait almost two months until his reintroduction when an injury to O'Leary forced him off against Swansea.
Bentley's current contract expires in 2023 meaning City will need to cash in this summer or risk losing him for nothing although his recent form and comments regarding his happiness in Bristol suggests there is every possibility a new extension can and perhaps should be agreed.
O'Leary's contract is also expiring in 2023 but the club do have more security over his future with an option to extend it for at least another year.
If Braga does make the surprise switch to City he will become the club's only second Brazilian player after former stopper and now Sheffield Wednesday goalkeeper coach Adriano Basso.
Basso is a cult hero in BS3 after helping guide the club to Championship promotion and narrowly missing out on the Premier League through the play-offs in the 2007/08 season.
Meanwhile, City could be handed a cash windfall in the summer should Newcastle pursue Bournemouth captain Lloyd Kelly.
Reports suggest the Magpies are keen on signing the Cherries captain who moved to the south coast from Bristol in 2019 for a reported £13m. City included a sell-on clause in the deal, believed to be around 10 to 20 per cent.
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