Sheffield Wednesday have held talks with Bristol City over signing outcast Tyreeq Bakinson on a permanent deal, Bristol Live understands.
The 23-year-old midfielder is free to leave this summer having fallen out of favour under Nigel Pearson. He has been training with the Under-23s following his loan return from Ipswich Town.
The Tractor Boys had the option of signing Bakinson on a permanent deal and despite showing promise in League One, head coach Kieran McKenna opted against activating the clause although still holds an interest.
It left Bakinson in limbo with Pearson reluctant to consider bringing him back into the first-team fold. He initially turned up for pre-season training with the senior squad but didn't travel on the training camp in Austria.
When asked about his future, Pearson said the club were working towards "trying to find a solution" ahead of the new season having entered the final year of his contract. His return in pre-season was the first time Bakinson was back among the squad following the manager's strong criticism of his attitude in January.
Having yet to feature in any pre-season matches, his future is inching closer to having a resolution with League One Sheffield Wednesday the most likely destination. City did activate the one-year option in his contract in November following a run of games in the first-team although Pearson conceded much of it was down to the financial decision to protect their asset.
Wednesday are hoping to mount a promotion push under manager Darren Moore after they were knocked out of the play-off semi-finals by Sunderland last season. Bakinson would be seen as an attractive proposition having already made over 100 football league appearances under his belt including 17 with Ipswich last season.
They have already signed experienced central midfielder Will Vaulks from Cardiff on a free transfer and Bakinson would add competition alongside Barry Bannan, George Byers and Dennis Adeniran.
He would be the club's fifth notable departure of the summer following Taylor Moore who joined Shrewsbury on loan for the season with the player's contract expiring next summer. Callum O'Dowda, Kasey Palmer and Robbie Cundy have also left the club.
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