Timm Klose has given a glimmer of hope that his future belongs with Bristol City after revealing he feels at home in the city and shared his encouragement at Nigel Pearson's future plans.
The Swiss defender is out of contract on June 30, despite attempts to tie him down to an extension following his impressive form since arriving on a free transfer in January.
Klose, 33, has played in every game since his January move to dispel fears over his fitness, while also proving he still has the quality to perform consistently week in week out in the Championship.
Manager Pearson admitted after the contest on Saturday that he wanted to keep Klose, suggesting he has been offered a new deal and is therefore assessing his options before committing to his future.
Klose's form may have attracted interest from elsewhere, including back in his native Switzerland where he enjoyed a loan spell with boyhood club Basel before joining City. However, comments made during a Q&A with supporters appear to suggest he is settled in the area and looking ahead to the long-term.
When asked about how he is enjoying Bristol, Klose responded: "Bristol is a fantastic city, I've felt at home since the moment I've arrived and it's a fantastic place where you can do a lot of things, especially for me and my dog.
"It's great because we can walk around quite often at Ashton Gate or Clifton Downs or even if you drive 45 minutes to an hour you can go to so many beautiful places towards the sea or Bath. It's really hard to pick one place but I really love it as a city, I think it's fantastic."
Klose was quizzed on what encouraged him to sign for Bristol City, where the defender suggested he was sold by Pearson's straight-talking nature and his plans for the future.
He added: "I think the talks with Nigel were fantastic, he was really honest. There was no left or right with him he was dead straight to the point where I thought I could see myself being a part of it.
"Even the future plans were very interesting. It was great to be a part of the whole plan I'm enjoying every moment."
Pearson was eager to reiterate that he wasn't aware where the two parties stood in regards to his contract, distancing himself from the negotiations.
City need to reduce the wage bill this summer with Callum O'Dowda one of the senior players set to leave on a free transfer with the club deciding against exercising the one-year extension to his contract.
"I can't tell you where we're at, I don't get involved with that sort of thing," Pearson said. "I think he's done really well and I'd like to keep him."
There are also uncertainties over Robbie Cundy and Andy King with their contracts also expiring at the end of the season. Bristol Live confirmed on Wednesday that Louis Britton will be released at the end of his deal on June 30.
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