Bristol City plot move for 19-goal striker after Leyton Orient, Dom Ballard snub | OneFootball

Bristol City have turned their attentions to Exeter City's Jayden Wareham after bids for Leyton Orient's Dominic Ballard were rejected

Bristol City have been one of the most active Championship clubs in the transfer market so far this summer, as the Robins look to break their way back into the play-off places next campaign by turning their attentions to a 19-goal centre-forward.

It's a big summer of change at Ashton Gate for Bristol City, with numerous changes going on behind the scenes, which, for Robins supporters' sake, will be hoped to be positive ones.

Former Arsenal technical director James Ellis has joined the club as sporting director, and has already played an influential role in the appointment of former Lincoln City boss Michael Skubala.

Sam Tickle has joined from Wigan Athletic, Sam Greenwood has signed from Pogon Szczecin, and Gibson Yah has penned a deal from FC Voldendam to kick things off for the club this summer.

Things don't appear to be showing any signs of slowing down anytime soon, however, with the Robins seeing numerous bids worth around £3 million rejected by Leyton Orient for striker Dominic Ballard, with the London side requesting around £5 million for his services.

Now, Bristol City seemed to have turned their attentions elsewhere following these rebuffed offers, with a new centre-forward in their crosshairs.

Bristol City have switched their attentions to Exeter City striker Jayden Wareham after offers for Leyton Orient's Dominic Ballard were rebuffed

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Centre-forward proved to be somewhat of a problem area for Bristol City last season, with only Emil Riis featuring regularly up top for the Robins.

Delano Burgzorg was signed on loan from Middlesbrough in the January window, but with the Surinamese heading back to Teesside, as well as both Sinclair Armstrong leaving for Turkish side Goztepe and Harry Cornick leaving on a free transfer, the Robins are short on options and quality in that key area.

Leyton Orient's Ballard, who hit 23 goals and grabbed four assists in 40 league games last season in League One, was outlined as their primary target recently, but with multiple offers being rebuffed and Bristol City seemingly unwilling to match their £5 million asking price, they have turned their attentions elsewhere.

According to Alan Nixon via Patreon, the Robins have now set their sights on Exeter City striker Jayden Wareham, who, despite the Grecians' relegation to League Two, scored 19 goals and assisted twice in 46 league games at St James' Park.

Wareham, 23, spent time in the academies of Reading, Queens Park Rangers, and Woking, the latter of whom he made his senior debut for in January, before earning a trial with Chelsea in March 2021, with whom he would sign shortly after on a two-year deal.

A brief loan spell with Leyton Orient in 2022 would yield little success, as Wareham would leave the Blues for Reading in 2023 on a permanent deal, where he would spend two years before joining Exeter last summer.

With the Devon outfit, Wareham has exploded into life, and now, could well make the jump to the Championship, with Bristol City lurking.

It's expected that, following Exeter's relegation to League Two, the Englishman will be available on the cheap, and certainly a more affordable option than Ballard.

Wareham would provide strong competition to Riis up top at Ashton Gate, and will be a player that incoming boss Skubala knows well, having crossed paths in League One last season.

No formal bid has been made as yet, as the Robins switch their focus from Ballard and weigh up their opening offer for the Exeter hitman.

Michael Skubala eyes up new striker at Bristol City this summer as Jayden Wareham leapfrogs Dominic Ballard in Robins centre-forward hunt

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As Skubala continues to stamp his authority on the Bristol City squad since arriving from Lincoln, a new striker appears to be his next priority target following the additions of Tickle, Greenwood, and Yah.

Whilst Riis scored nine and assisted twice in 44 league matches in his first year at Ashton Gate following his free transfer from Preston North End, the Dane isn't seen as the player to fire the Robins into the top eight.

Skubala, from his time in League One, knows exactly what both Ballard and Wareham are capable of, and with their hopes of signing the Leyton Orient forward fading, Wareham certainly isn't a bad alternative.

Whether he is capable of making the jump to the Championship at this stage remains to be seen, but as a more affordable option to Ballard, Wareham could be an excellent fit at Ashton Gate.