Bristol City in talks to sign midfielder - Rangers agreement may affect transfer plan | OneFootball

Bristol City are in talks to sign Sturm Graz midfielder Tomi Horvat.

Bristol City are in talks to sign Sturm Graz midfielder Tomi Horvat, as the Championship club battle to land a play-off spot for the second consecutive season.

The Robins have already been busy in the January transfer window, acquiring George Earthy on loan from West Ham United for a second spell at Ashton Gate.

Meanwhile, Bristol City are also in talks with Middlesbrough forward Delano Burgzorg, who has notched 1 goal in 22 Championship appearances this term.

The West Country outfit are tasked with balancing their second-tier duties with an FA Cup run, having beaten Watford 5-1 in the third round on Saturday.

Bristol City enter talks with Sturm Graz over Tomi Horvat

The Robins' next Championship outing sees them face Oxford United, who are vying to retain their second-tier status.

Meanwhile, as the Ashton Gate club strive to strengthen their play-off credentials, Sky Sports journalist Anthony Joseph revealed via X on Monday: "Bristol City are in talks to sign Sturm Graz midfielder Tomi Horvat.

"SK Sturm want to keep hold of the Slovenia international in this window, after they sold fellow midfielder Tochi Chukwuani to Rangers."

Horvat is a vital figure for the Austrian Bundesliga outfit, having made 28 appearances this term, including six Europa League outings.

Tomi Horvat could be a real coup for Robins as Gerhard Struber vies to strengthen Championship play-off bid

The Robins remain just two points behind the play-off places despite their 2-0 defeat to Preston North End in their last Championship fixture.

Adding a player of Horvat's pedigree to their squad could help Bristol City book a top-six spot ahead of promotion-chasing rivals such as Millwall and Hull City.

The Sturm Graz man has played in elite competitions such as the Europa League and Champions League, while he has shown his creative edge by notching four goals and six assists this term.

Horvat's quality is also demonstrated by the fact that he has made 12 senior appearances for Slovenia, most recently appearing for his nation in November's 1-1 draw with Sweden.

Amid their interest in the 26-year-old, Bristol City currently enjoy the services of fellow central midfielders Jason Knight and Adam Randell, while the latter has scored two goals in his last four games.

Adding Horvat to his ranks would add much-needed strength in depth for Struber, as he vies to guide the Robins to the top six in his first season in charge at Ashton Gate.

The West Country club face various challenges in the Championship this month, as they play relegation-threatened Oxford, automatic promotion candidates Ipswich Town, bottom side Sheffield Wednesday, and mid-table outfit Derby County.

If the Robins move quickly to acquire Horvat, despite Sturm Graz's resistance, the midfielder could help them earn vital victories ahead of the business end of the season.

As per FotMob, Horvat has created 48 chances in the Austrian Bundesliga this term, which is the sort of service that Bristol City attackers such as Emil Riis Jakobsen and Anis Mehmeti could benefit from.