"If we can get £5m" - Bristol City: Cameron Pring exit mooted | OneFootball

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…

Bristol City will be hoping to challenge for promotion in the Championship next season after a strong end to the campaign.

Inconsistency was a problem for the Robins for much of the season, but they lost just two of their final 10 games, winning five and drawing three, as they finished 11th in the table.

That form has given City supporters plenty of hope that they can be among the promotion contenders next season, and it could be a busy summer at Ashton Gate as head coach Liam Manning rebuilds his squad.

Matty James, Andy King and Andreas Weimann have been released at the end of their contracts, and they may not be the only players departing the club this summer, with the Robins board likely to be braced for interest in some of their stars.

One player who could attract attention from elsewhere is defender Cameron Pring, who enjoyed another impressive season this campaign.

Pring joined City from Cheltenham Town in 2016, and after loan spells with Guernsey, Merthyr Town, Aldershot Town, Hereford, Newport County, Cheltenham, Walsall and Portsmouth, he has established himself as a key part of the first team in recent years.

The 26-year-old was reportedly on the radar of West Ham United last summer before he put pen-to-paper on a new three-year contract with City, but that did not stop him from being linked with Rangers in the January transfer window.

Bristol City fan pundit on potential Cameron Pring departure

FLW's Bristol City fan pundit Tom Sandy says that Pring is currently the club's most sellable asset, and while he does not want to see him leave, he believes the Robins could look to bring in someone better suited to the left wing-back role.

"It really pains me to say this because he is one of my favourite Bristol City players, but in terms of cashing in on a player, I feel like the only player in our squad we could really cash in on would probably be Cameron Pring," Tom said.

"He's come on leaps and bounds in the last couple of seasons, and I really think he's a Premier League level player.

"That's reflected by the fact West Ham tried to come in for him last summer, at least they did when they thought Aaron Cresswell was leaving, but he ended up staying and luckily we kept him.

"Since we've switched to a back five under Liam Manning with Haydon Roberts slipping in as a wide left centre-back, I feel like Pring's forward play has elapsed slightly. "He hasn't got the best delivery in the final third, and he's 26, is he really going to adapt to going from left-back to left wing-back? "Could we maybe get in a player who is younger and more specialised in that position than him? Possibly.

"I wouldn't want to cash in on him, but if we can get £5m for him and bring in an adept replacement, then that may be who we go for."

Bristol City must be cautious over Cameron Pring sale

Tom is right that the Robins could receive a significant transfer fee for Pring, but the club should resist the temptation to cash in on him this summer.

The money received from Pring's sale could help balance the books at the club, and provide Manning with funds to reinvest in the squad, but if City are to challenge for promotion next season, they cannot afford to sell their best players.

After a strong end to the season, it seems the Robins have a good base to build on this summer, so they must concentrate on adding to their existing squad rather than having to replace their stars.

If City can keep hold of the likes of Pring, Anis Mehmeti, Sam Bell and Tommy Conway, an bring in some quality additions this summer, they could be set for a much-improved campaign next season.