It is only early December but to coin a cliche from a leading figure at Ashton Gate's other occupants, "recruitment never sleeps", and while Bristol City have a January transfer window to navigate in front of them, the real work takes place next summer.
There is only so much you can do in the New Year - it's only a month, teams are loathed to give up their best players so often you're hunting for cast-offs and any business the Robins can conduct is based on a sale being executed, something that is an uncertain determining factor.
The summer is different. You can plan for it and you know, by in large, the players that will be available. One obvious avenue for the club, and their 23 rivals in the division, will be the free agent market. It's no secret exactly who is out of contract in seven months (City have several players) and therefore recruitment departments can plan their assessments and sales pitches well in advance.
