Bristol City are ready to lodge a £5 million bid to sign Leyton Orient talisman Dom Ballard in a new effort to secure the striker.
The Robins have been keen on signing the former Southampton man for months, with Michael Skubala eyeing him as the final addition to his forward line that has also seen Plymouth Argyle’s Lorent Tolaj and former Leeds United man Sam Greenwood arrive.
City Enter Final Stages
Bristol City have lodged several offers in recent weeks, and despite the signing of Tolaj for a reported £4 million fee, that has not dissuaded the Ashton Gate club from also signing the Orient striker who won the League One Golden Boot last season.
The most recent bid was rejected at the value of £4 million at the end of July, with O’s chief David Gandler subsequently stating that the club needs to receive an acceptable offer to agree to an exit.
Now, in a major update from Alan Nixon through his Patreon page, the Robins are ready to submit a huge offer which could reach up to £5 million to try and get a deal for Ballard over the line.
That figure matches a valuation previously reported by Football League World, which would break the League One side’s previous record sale they achieved in letting Ethan Galbraith leave to join Swansea City.
It is believed that Leyton Orient are already resigned to letting the 21-year-old depart Brisbane Road after he set his sights on a move to the Championship this window.
However, City may face a minor hurdle to get their number one target, as the seven-figure fee may now require a player to leave the South West in order to secure a deal, with interest already growing in striker Emil Riis.
Orient had held out for a huge £15 million valuation for Ballard heading into the summer window, with several sides, including Leicester City, also keen on striking a deal with the O’s.
Skubala Close To Dream Addition
Bristol City have been looking to renovate their striking options this summer, and now with a £5 million bid for Dom Ballard on the horizon, it is now looking like just a matter of time before their work is complete.
Lorent Tolaj was their first dream target, and after securing him for £4 million, has already begun to live up to the expectations placed upon him with a few fine pre-season showings ahead of their season opener against Walsall.
Now, it seems with both Ballard and Orient ready for a deal to be struck, City will have landed striker number two to support Tolaj, and will be constructing a front line of League One’s best strikers to challenge for promotion in the Championship.
Whether Richie Wellens’ side will accept the bid remains to be seen, but all the signs are now showing that the League One club will have to scramble quickly to find his replacement.
£9 million for both options is a fairly steep price, but if Tolaj and Ballard can deliver on the pitch, then the Robins will feel they have struck two amazing deals which could return them to contenders under Michael Skubala.
