This summer is set up to be a very busy one at Ashton Gate, with so much uncertainly surrounding Bristol City at the moment.

Nigel Pearson is yet to sign a contract beyond the end of the season, while the club needs to replace outgoing CEO Mark Ashton and reports have suggested a director of football could arrive as well.

The playing squad looks set to see a fair bit of change as well, with more than 10 senior players out of contract in the summer.

The 2020/21 campaign started positively for the Robins but things have really gone downhill over the past few months and they now look set to finish not far above the relegation places.

City have established themselves as a top-half side in recent years and will be determined to get back to battling in that part of the table next term.

But how could their side look? We've taken an early look at how they may line up at the start of the 2021/22 season...

There is a very strong argument to be made that Dan Bentley has been City's Player of the Season this term and it would be a surprise not to see him win the award.

The English shot-stopper has been fantastic and were it not for him often winning the Robins points and keeping them in games they should've been well out of, we may be talking about a side preparing for life in League One.

There have been reports suggesting clubs have been watching Bentley but you feel he's someone City will want to keep hold of, particularly given how many other senior players could be leaving.

Max O'Leary looks an impressive player but it's hard to see him displacing the 27-year-old if both remain at the club.

A bit of a wild card perhaps because Andre Wisdom is a player at another club at the moment but with Jack Hunt out of contract, Opi Edwards being released and Steven Sessegnon set to return to Fulham, it wouldn't be a huge surprise to see a new player in at right-back.

Wisdom is set to become a free agent in the summer unless he agrees new terms with Derby County and given they could be a League One side next term, a move to Ashton Gate may appeal to him.

The Bristol Post's Gregor MacGregor revealed on the Robins At The Gate podcast back in March that Pearson wanted to bring in experienced full-backs and the 27-year-old has more than 250 club appearances under his belt.

He's featured at both centre-back and right-back for the Rams in recent years but he could slot in on the right side of City's back four nicely.

With Alfie Mawson returning to Fulham, Nathan Baker out of contract in the summer, and Adrian Mariappa's current deal expiring then to, it looks likely to be a toss-up between Zak Vyner, Taylor Moore and any new arrivals for who starts next to the skipper at centre-back.

Moore is still recovering from injury and Vyner has been the more impressive this term, so you feel the latter will likely get the nod.

He's been shifted around a few different positions this season but a run in the side alongside Tomas Kalas could be just what he needs to show that he's ready to be the Robins starting centre-back.

There have been few bright spots this season for City but Tomas Kalas' impressive form and availability have certainly been among them.

There's a strong argument to be made that this has been his most impressive season since the campaign that saw him play alongside Adam Webster while on loan from Chelsea and he's put to bed much of the concern about injury issues.

The South West club could really do with him forming a strong partnership with whoever plays next to him at centre-back.

Kalas will surely be one of the first names of the team sheet and continue to wear the captain's armband, whether Pearson remains in charge or not.

Injuries have meant that left-back has been a problem position for the Robins this term, with Jay Dasilva, Tommy Rowe, Cam Pring, Steven Sessegnon, and George Nurse all being sidelined at points.

Assuming Dasilva is back fully fit, he looks likely to reclaim the starting spot – particularly with Rowe's contract set to expire at the end of the season.

The 23-year-old has shown glimpses of what an exciting young player he is since joining from Chelsea but it's about consistency for him now as he returns from almost a whole season out.

Pring seems the likely man to play second fiddle in 2021/22.

Han-Noah Massengo has been one of City's most impressive players over the last month or so, with things looking as though they're starting to click for the midfielder despite a team struggling around him.

The 19-year-old arrived in a big-money deal from Monaco in 2019 and hasn't had the opportunities he likely would've hoped this term.

However, he's shown over the past month or so that he's ready to become a regular fixture in the Robins side and it would make sense to have the Frenchman as one of the holding midfield two.

It's been a very, very difficult first season at Ashton Gate for Joe Williams, who has played just 117 minutes of football due to injury.

After missing the start of the season, he returned in February but didn't last long before further injury plight meant he was sidelined once again.

Assuming the midfielder is back fit, his tenacity could make him the ideal partner for Massengo in central midfield.

After a season of frustration, supporters would surely love to see Williams and the French teenage tearing things up in the centre of the park.

His performances in 2019/20 for Wigan proved he's more than capable at Championship level.

Antoine Semenyo's development this season has been clear to see, with the forward making the transition from bright prospect to an important part of the Robins' attacking unit.

City could well face a battle to keep hold of the 21-year-old this summer, with the likes of Crystal Palace, Wolves, and West Ham United all linked, but if he's still at Ashton Gate, he'll surely be part of the starting XI.

Semenyo's direct running and electric pace have often been the creative spark for a Robins side that have lacked quality in the final third this season, hopefully, we see more of the same next term.

The 2020/21 campaign was supposed to be the season in which Liam Walsh cemented his place at City's playmaker but injuries have stopped him doing that.

We're yet to see the Walsh that dazzled as he helped Coventry City win League One while on loan in 2019/20 in the Robins' red but next season may be his chance to do that.

The 23-year-old is yet to pen a new deal at Ashton Gate with his current one expiring in the summer but the Bristol Post has reported that the club remains confident of securing a deal.

If they do so then Walsh could slot in behind the striker on the opening day of the season.

Andi Weimann's absence this season has contributed to their forward struggles, with City on course to have the fewest shots ever in a Championship campaign.

The Austrian's energy and versatility made him a key man over his first two seasons at Ashton Gate and once he's back fit, he'll surely be back in the side.

Assuming it's a 4-2-3-1 that Pearson goes with, Weimann would slot in best out on the left flank.

The 29-year-old has caught flak from supporters at points in the past but you feel after the issues they've had this term, the Ashton Gate faithful will be delighted to see him back.

It would be no surprise to see the Robins head into the 2021/22 campaign with a new number nine.

Famara Diedhiou is out of contract in the summer and the latest reports have indicated that he's close to a move to Middlesbrough when he leaves.

Jerry Yates is one player that the Robins have been linked with as a potential replacement, with the Blackpool striker firing in 20 goals this term.

If reports are to be believed, they'll have to beat out the likes of Nottingham Forest and Blackburn Rovers to land Yates but he looks like he could be the answer to their striking problems.

Should the Robins splash out for him in the summer, he'll surely start the season up top.