Nigel Pearson has confirmed new contract deals are on the table for both Robbie Cundy and Timm Klose, although it won't stop him from investing in defenders in the summer.
The Bristol City manager has been vocal about keeping Klose at the club beyond the summer following his impressive spell in the side since joining on a free transfer in January.
However, Pearson has been coy surrounding the future of Cundy, who ended his three-year wait to make his full Robins debut in the 1-0 victory over Blackburn in March. He has started the last nine consecutive matches in the absence of Tomas Kalas.
Cundy's deal also expires at the end of June, but Pearson admitted they are going down the route of tying him down to an extension.
Ahead of Saturday's match with Huddersfield, he said: "Well, we do need to strengthen in that area because as it stands at the moment, both Robbie and Timm are yet to sign for us."
When prompted whether the club have made an offer for Cundy, as they have done with Klose, Pearson added: "Hopefully, we'll be able to secure both of them but that's not my role to do that. But we're in the process of going down that route."
Pearson has been open in his plans to address City's defensive frailties by bolstering a backline that has conceded 75 goals throughout the campaign. However, there has been improvement since settling on a back three of Cundy, Klose and Rob Atkinson, keeping three clean sheets in their last nine matches, including two in their last four.
Despite that, Pearson remains adamant that he will invest in the problem area even if Cundy and Klose commit their futures to the club.
"We need to strengthen in that area anyway," Pearson added. "Our targets, we are very clear on those and we will try and make sure that we can deliver an improvement to the overall squad and the balance of the squad.
"We've had players who have had absolutely fantastic seasons. To say we're finishing 17th because that can't change now. We've had players who have been in incredible form for the majority of the season.
"I think it's pretty clear where we need to strengthen. That doesn't always mean replacing, it means strengthening."
Pearson has begun the process of clearing out his squad over the summer having told certain players that they won't be a part of the plans next season.
The club are expected to reveal their retained list next week which is likely to confirm Callum O'Dowda and Louis Britton will leave the club at the expiration of their deals at the end of June.
But the manager also revealed that contracted players have also been advised to seek opportunities elsewhere as he outlines his plans heading into the new campaign. Bristol Live understands that group includes midfielder Kasey Palmer and striker Nahki Wells, with City having tried to move them on in January due to the burden of their high salaries against a lack of first-team game time.
Others with time to run on their contracts also facing uncertain summers are defenders Zak Vyner and Taylor Moore, midfielder James Morton - who Pearson has previously said is free to leave after a move to MK Dons broke down last summer - and striker Saikou Janneh.
"It's how we continue to shape the squad. That will be, again, there's no point in making sweeping statements about targets and players," Pearson added.
"We know internally what we're trying to do and you'll hear about it when it happens. I'm not going to change my tact now to being overly transparent in terms of who are targets are because I never do that anyway. But what we will try and do is keep our fanbase updated as to what's happening.
"The retaining list will go out as early as we can and that will give an indication. There are also players within the club who have contracts for longer terms going forward who know they are not part of the plans so it's up to them to find their next opportunity.
"I'm quite clear in my own head what we need to do with the squad and we're all working together here to make sure that occurs.
"It's important that the players know that first, it can't be publicly out there first. Players need to be aware of their own situations and players who leave, they go with our best wishes - simple as that really."
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