Brazilian forward is interesting City

Robins are linked with a swoop for Portugal-based attacker Andre Silva

BRISTOL City have been linked with a swoop for Brazilian attacker Andre Silva, who can play either centrally or out wide.

The Robins have been targeting forward additions in the current transfer window – if they can free up space in their squad – with manager Nigel Pearson wishing to work with a smaller number of players, and with City possessing many midfielders.

Silva, in yellow, hit seven goals for Arouca in Portugal last season as his side went up via the play-offs, and the now top-tier team are said to be happy to cash in on the player for a fee of around one million Euros (£860,000). The 24-year-old is out of contract in a year, helping the chances of any interested bidders.

However, although the versatile front man is believed to be keen on a move to the Championship, there would be several hurdles to overcome should the Robins step up their interest. It is not clear if the player would be able to gain a work permit under new Brexit regulations, while fellow Portuguese side Braga are also said to be interested in the player, who has played wide on the right previously but has started two games in the league this season as a centre forward, including against Benfica two weekends ago.

City are thought to be weighing up several incomings and outgoings, with Adam Nagy having asked to leave the club. Interest has grown in the midfielder and the Hungarian is likely to leave Ashton Gate before the end of the transfer window.

That in turn could free up space and cash for an incoming, with Silva very much one of those players in consideration.

CHELTENHAM Town boss Michael Duff is not setting any special targets for his players following their first win of the new Sky Bet League One season in midweek.

Having started the campaign with a draw at Crewe and a loss at home to Wycombe, the Robins got their first victory on the board as they came from behind to beat Ipswich 2-1 at the Jonny-Rocks Stadium.

Asked what the next aim was after picking up the first point and then a first win, Duff, right, said: “Just go and win the next game. We talked about it last year – can we win the first half, see what happens at halftime and then try to win the second half. Nothing has changed. It doesn’t matter who we play in this league, we won’t be fancied.

“Simon Grayson (Fleetwood boss) has unbelievable experience, and Fleetwood are an established League One team with some very, very good players and they have had a difficult start, but if you look at the teams they’ve played, there has been one goal in it in every game, so they’ve been right in games.

“People might see they’ve not won a game, but we are not foolish enough to think that. Their supporters are probably looking at us now and thinking ‘This is a game we’ll win’ and that’s absolutely fine – we know that with every game we go into.

“It’s up to us to turn up and hit the same levels as we did on Tuesday and make ourselves competitive.”

On the subject of possible new arrivals, Duff added: “We have loads of plates spinning. We are waiting on clubs to let players go and they might not do it. There are all sorts of possibilities and that’s why it’s so difficult to say when, if, or how we’ll sign somebody because things just drop.”