Will Dom Ballard join Bristol City? Key Leyton Orient figure makes new transfer claim | OneFootball

Leyton Orient majority shareholder, David Gandler has spoken out on the club's stance on Dom Ballard, who has been linked with a move away.

The hot topic of conversation around Leyton Orient continues to be on the future of star striker, Dom Ballard, who has plenty of potential suitors this summer.

The former Southampton youngster caught the eye for all the right reasons in their recent League One campaign. He scored 23 goals and was on hand to provide five assists for his Leyton Orient team-mates, as they finished 20th in the third-tier standings, narrowly avoid relegation into League Two.

Unsurprisingly, Ballard's impressive showings haven't gone unnoticed, with many clubs rumoured to be keen on landing his signature this summer.

Bristol City are one of those, although it remains to be seen whether they'll push ahead with a potential deal for Ballard, having recently signed Lorent Tolaj from Plymouth Argyle.

The Robins haven't been shy about spending money this summer, as they look to win promotion into the Premier League in the 2026/27 league campaign.

Key Leyton Orient figure issues update on Dom Ballard's future

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Leyton Orient have stood firm in their valuation of Ballard, who still has two years remaining on his current contract, with Orient having an option of extending that deal by a further year.

It was previously reported by journalist, Alan Nixon that Leyton Orient had turned down a bid of £4m from Bristol City, although the Robins were said to still be pushing with their interest in the forward.

Leyton Orient majority shareholder, David Gandler has issued an update on the club's stance on rumoured interest in Ballard, and stated that the League One side are in no rush to sell their in-demand striker.

"I think the theme on everyone's mind is probably Dom Ballard. Look, it's very simple. The club has to receive an acceptable offer, and something that will allow us to plan for the future," Gandler has revealed.

"If that doesn't happen, then we are under no pressure to sell. I do believe that there are clubs out there that think we are still 'little' Leyton Orient, and we are not."

David Gandler issues defiant message on Leyton Orient's goals

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Gandler went on to admit that he's keen to see Leyton Orient establish themselves as a sustainable club in the Championship, before stating that Orient will need to get value for their players' worth.

"We want to be able to deliver on our goal, which is to build a sustainable Championship club, and we will do that. We obviously want to help continue to support the career of players, such as Dom Ballard. Again, I think we've done that and developed a platform for him to be able to showcase his skills.

"It's important for us to ensure that we get offers that we think will create value for the football club over the long-term. So again, we are under no pressure to sell any player unless it's feasible."

At the age of 21, Ballard still has plenty of room to develop in senior football, which could hint why Leyton Orient are remaining firm with their stance on his valuation.

Bristol City are set to get their 2026/27 Championship campaign underway against Millwall, in what should be a tough test for the Robins on the opening weekend of fixtures, and it'll be interesting to see whether Ballard lines up for them by the time that game comes around.

How have Bristol City fans reacted to this update on Dom Ballard's future?

Gandler's comments have sparked a reaction from Bristol City supporters on social media, with many feeling as though the club are not going to cough up what the east London outfit want.

This City fan thinks that Orient are demanding too much for their star player, although they are well within their rights to ask for what they want.

These Robins supporters believe that the recruitment team should be moving on to other targets after not reaching the price for Ballard.