Bristol City released Mark Little at the end of their turbulent 2016/17 campaign, and Adam Matthews returned to his parent-club Sunderland, leaving Lee Johnson with very little experience in the right-back department. 

Little was a reliable, if not unspectacular full back in his three years at Ashton Gate, making 28 Championship appearances last season.

20-year-old Zak Vyner has been tipped as a long term replacement , and the impressive youngster played four times for City last term, but Lee Johnson will be keen to have additional options, if not to add volume to his lean squad, then to ease the pressure on his raw talent.

The Robins' boss could look to Fleetwood's Conor McLaughlin as the perfect candidate and would give the side another attacking dimension that Little could not offer at times last season.

Barnsley are also said to be interested  in the Northern Ireland international, who was named in the Sky Bet League One team of the year and chipped in with five goals as Fleetwood punched well above their weight, finishing in the top six of the third tier for the first time in their history.

McLaughlin played a part Euro 2016 as part of the Northern Ireland side who reached the last-sixteen, facing competition from Aaron Hughes, but did start the opening game of the tournament and was pretty much an ever present in qualifying.

Due to his marvellous domestic season, and playing among higher quality players at international level, McLaughlin will be chomping at the bit to move up the league ladder.

The 25-year-old would add another dynamic to the squad, as well as filling the hole left by Mark Little and Adam Matthews.

Bristol City should move fast to secure his signature before another Championship club does.