Bristol City's recruitment ahead of the 2022-23 Championship season has already begun, with Nigel Pearson going bargain hunting before the summer transfer window has officially opened.

With finances thought to be tight at Ashton Gate this summer, the Robins are looking to be creative, and in Mark Sykes and Kal Naismith, Pearson has already secured two versatile players who could make a big impact.

There's still a long way to go though for Pearson to complete his squad ahead of the new season, with gaps needing to be filled and potentially some significant player sales to come.

After a campaign of disappointment in 2021-22, City will be looking to push up the Championship table into at least the top half, but for that to happen, more players will need to arrive at the club.

Let's look at EIGHT Championship individuals that the Robins could target in the coming months if they want to progress.

With Chris Martin not getting any younger at the age of 33, the Robins could do with an alternative to the former Scotland international as a target man.

Step forward Smith, who plundered in 19 league goals for Rotherham United last season, and in his most recent Championship season he scored 10 times.

The 30-year-old will be a free agent next month if he doesn't renew his Millers contract - there is interest from elsewhere and City would be foolish to not get themselves into the mix for his signature.

Rinomhota is a player already linked with a move to Ashton Gate, with BristolLive reporting that the 25-year-old is a transfer target for the Robins.

His Reading contract expires at the end of the month and considering the Royals have been struggling financially for a little while, City could be able to offer him a better deal.

The midfielder played 20 times last season in the Championship until a knee injury in March ended his season early - the engine room is an area that needs looking at though with Han-Noah Massengo rumoured with a move away.

An alternative to Rinomhota could be Vaulks, who wouldn't have to relocate far, if at all, with his Cardiff City deal coming to an end this month.

The 28-year-old's future at the Bluebirds is uncertain, but with City winning the race for Kal Naismith, who they would've had to have offered a good contract to, it will give them confidence to land a similar quality of player like Vaulks.

Vaulks played 36 times for Cardiff last season, scoring twice, and whilst Sheffield Wednesday have been linked with his signature, the midfielder is surely still a Championship-quality operator.

City have already added a left-footed defender in the form of Naismith, but he can play at wing-back and as a holding midfielder as well, so perhaps another defender could be added.

Pedersen has been released by Birmingham City after four years at the club, and whilst the Blues struggled for the majority of the time the Dane was a regular, he was one of the better performers in his time at St. Andrew's.

On a free transfer, City could do a lot worse than bring the 27-year-old in for a couple of years and see how he fares.

A younger defender to potentially add to the ranks is Holmes, who like the aforementioned Rinomhota has a contract at Reading which is expiring this summer.

Previously linked with Nottingham Forest, Holmes played 32 times for the Royals in the Championship, and despite being offered a new deal at the Select Car Leasing Stadium, it doesn't mean he's going to put pen-to-paper on it.

Because of his age at 22 years old, compensation would need to be paid to Reading if they were to secure his signature, but because it would be a small fee, it is realistic to suggest that the Robins could go in for Holmes.

City's capture of Naismith from Luton has showed that despite their lowly finish last season, Nigel Pearson's side can attract top free agents to Ashton Gate with good contracts.

They could do the same with Nyambe, who has still yet to renew his deal with Blackburn, having spent his whole career so far at Ewood Park.

Considering Nyambe has been linked with top flight clubs in the past, this would be incredibly ambitious, but it is not beyond the realms of possibility to sign the right-back this summer.

Despite not officially being under contract with Sunderland for next season, Roberts is classed as a Championship player on the basis of helping the Black Cats win promotion to the second tier.

They are in negotiations to extend the attacking midfielder's stay at the Stadium of Light, but Roberts should have other offers on the table after showing some of the ability under Alex Neil in the play-offs that was promised earlier in his career.

Still only 25 years old, Roberts could add some more creativity to the Robins side should he be pursued.

It's important for City to add to their striking options this summer, with Nahki Wells seemingly headed out the exit door after an unproductive 2021-22 campaign.

One player who would perhaps command a decent contract but almost certainly would be a proven goalscorer is Gray, who despite only appearing 28 times for Queens Park Rangers on loan last season, scored 10 goals.

Having done the business for both Burnley and Brentford at Championship level, there is perhaps a risk on taking Gray on a permanent basis following a lacklustre stint at Watford, but there were signs of life there at the R's and he could be a great addition to Pearson's attack.