2 bargain free transfers Bristol City could consider ft Divin Mubama | OneFootball

Football League World pinpoints two free transfers Bristol City could make this summer

Highlights

After another season of incremental improvement, Bristol City are aiming to raise the bar again in Liam Manning’s first full term as head coach.

Throughout the latter part of the 2023-24 campaign, the side from the South West began to click into gear and find form as they climbed the table to a respectable 11th place finish.

With a wealth of experience and quality at his disposal, playing an expansive system that has been bedded in, Manning is expected to mastermind a bold play-off bid this season.

However, there remains plenty of room for improvement and a late flurry of transfer activity could make all the difference, bridging the gap between the mid-table positions and the top six.

As clubs across the country scramble to complete late business before the summer window closes on August 30, most of the obvious deals have dried up.

As Bristol City look to land a late bargain, Manning should utilise the free agent market to strengthen for minimal cost.

Here, Football League World looks closely at a couple of cost-effective free transfers Bristol City could consider.

Divin Mubama

Highly-rated youngster Divin Mubama moved on from West Ham United this summer upon the expiry of his contract. The Premier League club had hoped to retain one of their most exciting academy prospects but had to concede his departure with contract negotiations at an impasse.

Across five substitute appearances for the Hammers last season, Mubama, 19, caught the eye broadcast to a wider top-flight audience. Unaware of his prolific scoring record at youth level, many watching the striker for the first time acclaimed his hard work leading the press, excellent hold-up play and combativeness in contesting for possession.

With Tommy Conway’s exit looming, Manning should turn to the free agent market, and Mubama, to bring in replacement firepower. If the Robins can strike a contract agreement with the youngster, they will take on one of the division's brightest prospects without having to shell out a hefty transfer fee.

Often confined by David Moyes' typically negative system at West Ham, Mubama would flourish playing in a front-footed, high-possession side. It could be a match made in heaven for the talented centre-forward, who would have the opportunity to take the next step in his career with a high-end Championship side, and Bristol City, who would bring in an unexposed high-ceiling youngster that could take the division by storm.

Emiliano Marcondes

Having spent last season on loan in Scotland at Hibernian, creative attacking midfielder Emiliano Marcondes’ Bournemouth contract expiry flew largely under the radar. While the dynamic No.10’s last appearance in the Championship came two years ago, he could pick up where he left off as an excellent rotation option at this level.

North of the border, the Dane found the back of the net three times in Green and White last season, playing in a struggling Hibs side that slumped to an underwhelming eighth-place finish.

Despite his team’s struggles in the Scottish Premiership, Marcondes was one of the club’s better performers and should not be overlooked by Championship clubs looking to bolster their midfield ranks for free.

The technical 29-year-old would be an asset for most teams in the division as an off-the-bench option. He can unlock defences, produce in important moments and change games. Marcondes should be suited by Manning's attractive play-style and could provide cover as injuries emerge throughout the marathon Championship campaign.