'Brilliant' Bristol City star tipped to join Wolves over Ipswich Town | OneFootball

Our Bristol City fan pundit is praying they hold on to their talismanic attacker

This article is part of Football League World's 'Terrace Talk' series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more...

Wolverhampton Wanderers are reportedly interested in signing Bristol City midfielder Anis Mehmeti.

That’s according to a report from Football Insider, who also revealed that fellow Championship side Ipswich Town have registered an interest.

Mehmeti has been a key figure for the Robins this term, notching eight goals and six assists in the Championship so far.

We asked our Bristol City fan pundit, Tom Sandy, whether he can see the player leaving Ashton Gate this January.

Jack Clarke reduces Ipswich Town’s need for Anis Mehmeti

The interest in Mehmeti comes just as the Tractor Boys have put two past City, both coming from winger Jack Clarke.

Clarke, like Mehmeti, tends to play on the left wing, which has raised questions for Tom when assessing the likelihood of the deal.

Speaking to Football League World, Tom said: “On the Anis Mehmeti question, Ipswich Town are the reported club who are looking to seal a deal with him.

“I was seeing Wolves interested in the last 24 hours in also bringing him in.

“Ipswich surprises me, having watched them last night. Jack Clarke on the wing, very dynamic, very ruthless winger.

“I think the way he played last night is better than Anis Mehmeti has played this season.”

Clarke has managed to notch 10 Championship goals so far this season, but there is an argument to say that Mehmeti is slightly ahead, with a combined 14 goal contributions; the latter’s increased assists perhaps a nod to the differing styles of the two players.

“They're different wingers in the way they play,” Tom continued. “Jack Clarke, we didn't make it difficult for him last night. He didn't have to try too hard to score that goal, the first one, and the second one was a mistake, really. He slotted it in really, really well, put it in the bottom corner both times. You can't fault the two finishes.

“They’re probably chances Anis would be scoring this season too. I think he's been brilliant this season.

“But the way Jack Clarke moves on the ball, I don't think there's much difference between the two of them.”

Ipswich also have Jaden Philogene vying to play in a similar position to Clarke, which creates further questions over what Mehmeti’s role would be.

“And then you also think they've got Jaden Philogene in the back that they can use as well,” Tom noted.

“I'm not sure of the significance of [Philogene’s] injury, but he's clearly a Premier League standard player.

“And so when they've got two players with that depth in that position, which is Mehmeti’s strongest, it's a surprise that they're going for him. I believe that they want to use him in the 10, from what I've gathered, which would be interesting.

“I think it would be a good move for him to refine that sort of role, but he's definitely at his best coming off the left and being able to drive at players, cut inside on his right foot and whip it towards the far corner and stand up crosses to the back post. Those are his best qualities, I think.

“So, I think he's definitely better off on the left than in the middle, but we haven't played him much in the middle, so I can’t 100 per cent say that he wouldn't be good at it.”

Wolverhampton Wanderers move would make more sense for Anis Mehmeti

Wolves is obviously a more attractive move on paper of the two, with the Midlands outfit boasting Premier League football, even if they do look the most likely side to be relegated.

“I could see him leaving this window. I'd probably say it’s more likely to see him leave to Wolves, though, than Ipswich,” the fan pundit concurred.

But a potential relegation may not be the primary motivating factor, as this is Mehmeti’s last chance to move before the World Cup, which his nation, Albania, are still fighting to be at.

“That would be a big step for him in his career,” Tom said. “To get some Premier League game time, ahead of the World Cup, which I think he needs to get into the Albania national team, which he is desperate to do.

“He’s stated before that he feels that the Albania national team don't really look past the top divisions in each league, and he feels like he should get a chance there, which I think he should too.

“I think he's a brilliant winger, he’d definitely add a lot of skill to that national team and improve it.”

Following the sacking of Vitor Pereira, former Middlesbrough boss Rob Edwards took over, a highly regarded coach, predominantly for his work with Luton Town.

Wolves sit rock bottom in the Premier League, 14 points from safety, but Edwards appears to have turned a slight corner with his new club, boasting an unlikely unbeaten four-game run from three draws and a win against West Ham United.

Tom concluded: “I think that would be a move that would be really enticing for him. Rob Edwards is a brilliant coach.

“Whether he's ready for that step up, I'm not sure, but Wolves is the best place, at the moment, for you to give that go.

“They're already pretty much down and out. Their form’s picking up a little bit. If they can get him, I think that'll be a brilliant move for him.”

Losing Mehmeti bad for Bristol City

The fact that Wolves looks such an attractive proposition for Mehmeti will be a worry for the Robins, with Tom pointing out that the club have just let five players out on loan, three of which are attackers.

He said: “From our perspective, it's a pretty bad time to lose him, given the fact that we've just loaned out Yu Hirakawa, we've loaned out Josh Stokes, Max Bird is still coming back from injury, we just have [George] Earthy and [Scott] Twine.”

One positive of Mehmeti going is the fact that it may, in Tom’s view, allow Gerhard Struber to tinker with his system to get the likes of Sinclair Armstrong firing, something that isn’t possible while ensuring the team works around the Albanian.

“Although, obviously, [if] we bring in a new striker, then we might be playing with just the one 10, and that system would change. That would probably benefit us, in that regard,” Tom said.

“And then I think [Emil] Riis and Sinclair Armstrong are both better at playing as a two.

“But you can't really drop Anis Mehmeti at the moment, so you kind of have to play within a system for him.

“But, yeah, I think he's a brilliant player in our system. He's a brilliant pressing machine. So, it'd be a shame to lose him, but I could see him leaving before February 2nd, given the fact that his contract is expiring at the end of the season.

“Although, I've also heard rumours that we might be looking to extend that contract, and they're in advanced talks.

“So, who knows? We'll see. But hopefully he stays because I really like him.”

If not directly in terms of position, then Mehmeti’s creative output would certainly need replacing at Ashton Gate.

Whether that can be done by somebody already at the club, or a recruit is required, remains to be seen, but it would certainly be unfortunate timing for Mehmeti to drop out of Struber’s promotion-chasing squad.