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.
City manager Nigel Pearson admitted before the World Cup break that the 28-day pause in play would be put to good use in terms of devising recruitment strategy and he and the technical director will have already drawn up their long list of potential additions for next summer, with further steps to be taken into 2023.
Given how many City players are out of contract, it promises to be a summer of considerable change plus you'd think - considering the contracts that will be off the books - some greater degree of financial flexibility, and the free-agent market will provide the best value in terms of regenerating and improving the first-team squad.
We've listed who we think are the 10 best free agents in the Championship set to be on the market in 2023, appropriate to City's needs. We've deliberately left out all players - such as Norwich's Teemu Pukki, Ross Stewart of Sunderland and Rotherham's Ben Wiles - who have 12-month options in their agreements because, in nearly all circumstances, they will be activated by their respective clubs...
10. Jack Whatmough (Wigan Athletic)
Has enjoyed two very good seasons with Wigan, firstly as a key part of the Latics team that earned promotion out of League One and then in the Championship where, although they’ve struggled, the 24-year-old centre-back has very much looked of the level and has been consistent and reliable.
What’s been crucial to Whatmough’s time in the north west is the injury problems that plagued his progression at hometown club Portsmouth seem to be behind him; he missed just 30 minutes of league action last term and 198 this season.
An aggressive and dynamic defender with a strong reading of the game, he also is an excellent passer from deep and, given his age, is yet to hit his ceiling.
9. Ryan Ledson (Preston North End)
Your textbook underrated Championship performer, Ledson quietly goes about his business for Preston as a holding midfielder, keeping it simple and protecting the defence.
What is interesting about his position is that, at 25, he's at the stage of his career where he'll want to be a bona fide starter but, for much of this campaign, he's been in and out of the side with Ryan Lowe moving his defensive midfielders around.
This is his fifth season in the Championship meaning he has plentiful experience and is a popular member of the dressing room at Deepdale and the sort glue-like presence in a squad that would appeal to Pearson.
8. Kieran Dowell (Norwich City)
It’s not really worked out for Dowell at Carrow Road since he made the move from Everton in 2020 as he’s never properly commanded a regular first-team place and Daniel Farke and now Dean Smith haven’t looked quite sure how best to use him, while injuries also haven’t helped.
A wonderfully-technical and inventive midfielder who, at first glance, looks tailor-made for a No10 spot but he’s probably best deployed as a more advanced No8, getting him on the ball and in possession as regularly as possible.
If anything, he’s been under-utilised at Norwich, where he’s on occasion been shunted out to the right, and all these factors have impacted his consistency - arguably the main frustration around him. At the right club, and with responsibility to be the main man, he could be a star in this division.
It should be noted that he’d be on a contract at the higher end of the scale at Championship level, which may limit his availability for certain clubs.
7. Oliver Norwood (Sheffield United)
By contrast, if you want to eliminate the amount of unknowns you’re potentially bringing to a club, then look no further than Norwood who is as reliable a central midfielder, passer and leader at Championship level as you’re going to find.
At 31, you’d think his best years are behind him but Norwood has been much more than just Mr Consistency in the Blades engine room. Outside his reliability and durability - ever-present in 2022/23 campaign and with 44 starts last season - he’s been arguably the best player in the Championship this term.
There are echoes of Matty James, in terms of the role he would fulfil, and City’s needs are probably elsewhere on the field, but if a name of his stature was to be available, and gettable (which, if we’re being honest, is probably a tad unlikely), he’s one of those individuals you just want on your team.
6. Joel Latibeaudiere (Swansea City)
He may not possess the same body of work as some of the other centre-backs on this list but given his age, 22, and emerging talent, any interested club would not only be signing a defender for the now but also for the future, and someone who could also prove to be a very valuable transfer asset.
Burnley were reported to be interested in signing him last summer and while the Clarets won’t suddenly drop him from view, a promotion could lead Vincent Kompany to look towards other targets.
Latibeaudiere has been deployed at right-back and curiously right wing-back this season which doesn’t draw the best out of his defensive talents as a strong and classy centre-back, something that could happen for City.
5. Dan Barlaser (Rotherham United)
If Norwood is the known Championship quantity, then Barlaser is the sort of player who could become that figure in the division, if not at a higher level, such has been his progression for the Millers.
Known as the “Geordie Pirlo” he is a lovely, elegant deep-lying playmaker who is joint top in the league in terms of assists this season with six and, with the greatest of respect to Rotherham’s forwards, could produce some outrageous numbers with better attackers in front of him.
He looks destined for a move to a team challenging for promotion next season, and if City can pitch themselves as that sort of organisation in a system and framework where he would continue to thrive, then there’s no reason why they couldn’t be a contender to bring in what could prove to be a serious asset.
4. Liam Lindsay (Preston North End)
We know City are in the market for centre-backs and depending on what happens with Tomas Kalas and Timm Klose next summer and any business that can be conducted in January, they could need at least three by the time the window opens at the end of this season.
For all the individual quality the Robins have in defence, they don’t possess that one certifiable central anchor figure, something Lindsay has been for a Preston defence among the meanest in the division.
By his own admission, he’s playing the best football of his career and at 27 has several years ahead of him. It’d be some coup if City could snatch him from a club who would consider themselves equal in terms of size and resources but it could also be a Kal Naismith-type situation beyond the fact both men are from Glasgow.
3. Todd Cantwell (Norwich City)
Not so long ago it would have been inconceivable to see Cantwell’s name in lists of out of contract players, the attacking midfielder was one of the most exciting young talents possibly in the country and looked destined for the very top.
But the 24-year-old’s career has stalled, emphasised by an underwhelming loan at Bournemouth last season whereby he couldn’t shine in a team that was clearly of a higher quality that most of their opponents.
Now back at Norwich he’s been unable to find much consistency or productivity and appears a player in need of a fresh start. Pearson has spoken of the need for a maverick talent, capable of the unorthodox and getting everyone on their feet - for good and sometimes bad reasons - Cantwell looks pretty perfect for that.
2. Chris Willock (QPR)
We’re getting to the top of the list so, look, we have to go a bit ambitious here. The chances are that, with his deal in West London expiring, Willock’s representatives are thinking “Premier League” for the 24-year-old who’s been mostly outstanding since the start of the 2021/22 campaign.
A silky smooth offensive midfielder, who can break lines, link the play, spot a pass, blast one in from long range and provide penetration in the penalty box, he is unquestionably an elite Championship force.
Even if City got to the table, the wage expectations would be high and given Alex Scott (if still here) and Ayman Benarous, resources may well be directed elsewhere but sometimes you just need quality players, and you figure out how to use them a little further down the line.
1. Jake Cooper (Millwall)
If you were to pin Pearson down on what the concept of his perfect centre-back in the Championship is, there’s a good chance that Cooper would be pretty close to fulfilling all his criteria.
In terms of attributes - tall, aggressive, stoic, experienced and with a nice range of passing - and character he ticks many a box and, what’s more, unlike some of the names we’ve mentioned is probably in the sort of wage bracket that would be acceptable for City.
There would be considerable competition for his signature plus there’s every reason to suggest that Millwall are in a strong position to retain him but he just looks an ideal fit for the City defence.
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