Zak Vyner: Bristol Boss Provides Update on Kenyan Prospect’s Links to Big-Spending English Club

Bristol City coach Gerhard Struber has opened up on the speculation linking Harambee Stars prospect Zak Vyner with a move away from the club this month.

Vyner has emerged as a major target for top spending English Championship side Wrexham ahead of the closure of the January transfer window on Monday as he has six months remaining on his contract.

Wrexham were keen to sign the defender last summer but a move fell through when Bristol rejected their bid but as he enters the final six months of his career, they have revived their interest.

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Bristol appear resigned to losing the 28-year-old after efforts to extend his stay at the club proved futile but will want a substantial fee for their academy graduate, who has been at the club since he was a kid in 2004, and came through the ranks, making 264 senior appearances.

Commenting on the transfer rumours, Struber admits losing the versatile defender would be a blow but he would understand if both the player and club decided to part ways.

"We know what we have with him, he's an outstanding football player, he's - I would say - the face of the club with his time here in Bristol,” Struber said as quoted by Bristol Live. “We will see how everything will go, but I hope he'll stay the next few months here, and maybe he’ll attend his contract.”

"I always say, that's not my area that I can influence. I always say that it's always a shame when you lose players on this level, but in the end, it's also sometimes natural and the logical next step for a player when he moves in a different direction.”

Struber still hopes Vyner can choose to stay at the club as they try to fight for promotion to the Premier League but appears resigned to losing the highly-rated defender.

"This is, of course, much more on Zak and which direction he wants to go. He has a really good Bristol City offer on the table, but of course, it's on Zak in the end [and] which direction he wants to go,” the Austrian coach further stated.

"We have with Zak Vyner, a player here who is super convinced with this club and all the things that are going on. On the same time, also for him, it's important right now to realise in which direction the future will go.”

"Also, for his personal mindset, this would be really, really good. A decision to stay here for the long term, this would be perfect for him, for me, for the boys, for the club. From the other side, when he has a big offer on the table from another club, maybe sometimes it's also good when he finds a move,” said the tactician.

Vyner is currently sidelined with an ankle ligament injury but that has not prevented his suitors from closing in and it remains to be seen if Wrexham will submit an offer that is enticing before Monday’s transfer deadline.

Bristol are currently seventh on the Championship table with 43 points, just one behind Wrexham, who occupy the final promotion playoff position, after 29 games.