Bristol City fans are braced for an eventful summer. 

The 2020/21 campaign started with so much optimism and with the Robins top of the Championship at points but is ending in disappointment.

Nigel Pearson's arrival hasn't had the impact many hoped it would and whether he's going to be the man trusted with making the changes that are clearly needed at Ashton Gate remains unclear.

His contract only runs until the end of the season and he's not yet been offered a new deal – with suggestions that they may be considering other options.

Pearson's not the only person that could leave Bs3 ahead of the 2021/22 campaign as there are a significant number of senior players that are out of contract, while other squad members have been linked with moves away.

Ahead of what could be a summer of change at Ashton Gate, we've highlighted 8 players Bristol City could sell or release...

Famara Diedhiou's four-year tenure at Ashton Gate looks set to come to an end.

The City striker continues to be linked with other clubs with his contract expiring at the end of the 2020/21 campaign.

Despite suggestions over the last six months that an offer is on the table for Diedhiou, last term's top scorer and player of the season hasn't agreed a new deal yet and it's looking less and less likely that he will.

He's not looked at his best over the last few months, so Robins supporters may well feel that if an appropriate replacement can be found losing the powerful forward will not be the end of the world.

That's not to say that Diedhiou hasn't been a fantastic player for City over the past four years but he has struggled to make that step up to become the sort of striker that could fire them to the Premier League.

Should Jamie Paterson leave this summer, it really will feel like the end of an era at Ashton Gate.

The attacking midfielder is one of the last remaining Lee Johnson favourites at City but with his contract running down, he could well be on the move in the summer.

Paterson may well want to assess the options available to him at that point and likewise, the Robins could be weighing up whether to offer him a new deal.

The 29-year-old has made more than 150 appearances for the Robins, scoring 26 times and adding 21 assists, but a fresh start might be best for all parties.

Were injuries not a concern, you feel City would be doing all they can to ensure that Nathan Baker doesn't leave the club as a free agent.

Another player whose current deal is coming to an end, Baker has been a reliable and solid option at the heart of their backline when fit.

The issue has been that he's simply not been able to stay injury-free enough and that he is the fifth-highest earner at the club (SalarySport).

If Nigel Pearson is planning a squad overhaul this summer, it would not be a surprise to see Baker departing – though he may be able to earn himself a new deal if he gets a chance over the next few weeks.

One of the few players on this list whose contract is not up at the end of the season, Dan Bentley has turned heads in the top flight – with the Bristol Post reporting that Southampton are keen on him.

It's been a disappointing season for the Robins and Bentley has been one of few bright lights but the Robins may look to cash in if the Premier League club come calling.

In Max O'Leary, City have a young goalkeeper that looks ready to become their number one and we know that they're a club open to selling their assets for a profit.

It wouldn't be a popular move among the Ashton Gate faithful but losing Bentley this summer is a possibility.

Henri Lansbury has proven a controversial figure since joining the club in January, seeming to quickly win the trust of Pearson but often leaving City fans frustrated.

The experienced midfielder arrived on a free transfer back at the start of the year after he was released by Aston Villa, leaving many supporters confused, but his contract at Ashton Gate expires in the summer.

It's hard to argue that he's deserving of a new deal but his future may well hinge on whether or not Pearson stays on as manager in Bs3, as he certainly seems to be someone that the current City boss rates.

Another controversial arrival, Danny Simpson has history with Pearson and will be looking to prove over the next few weeks that he deserves to be part of the squad for next season.

The right-back was a free agent until last month, having left Huddersfield Town at the end of last season, and only joined City on a short-term deal until the summer.

Similarly to Lansbury, Simpson's future is likely to be linked to Pearson's but even if the experienced manager remains at the club he may feel that there are better options out there than the 34-year-old – particularly once the transfer window is open.

The experienced defender has proven a very useful acquisition for the Robins, featuring 25 times since joining as a free agent in November.

City have been ravaged with injuries but Adrian Mariappa has been reliable when called upon – whether that be at centre-back or full-back.

His contract expires at the end of the season and the South West club may feel he's worth keeping around on a one-year deal but it would be no surprise to see them release him and look to find a replacement.

The decision over Mariappa could well be impacted by who else remains at the club or is let go.

A combination of injuries, a lack of opportunities, and his struggle to make an impact in games have made Marley Watkins' three years at Ashton Gate a disappointing spell.

City paid £1 million to sign him from Norwich City back in 2018 and it's impossible to argue that they've got their money's worth.

Watkins' best performances since have come on loan and with his contract up in the summer, it makes sense for all parties for Robins to release him and let him make a fresh start elsewhere.

Keeping the 30-year-old would be a strange move, it has to be said.