Shoring up defensively has to be a top priority for Bristol City ahead of the next Championship season. 

Only the top six scored more goals than City in 2021/22 but they conceded the third-most in the division, behind only relegated Peterborough United and late survivors Reading.

According to journalist Alan Nixon, Nigel Pearson is keen to add out-of-contract Derby County centre-back Curtis Davies in the summer in an attempt to solve the Robins' defensive issues and add some more experience to what is a fairly youthful squad.

The Rams were relegated this season but Davies, now 37, won the club's Player of the Year award after playing every minute of every Championship game.

He may be open to remaining at Pride Park but should he prefer a route back to the second tier then a move to Ashton Gate may appeal to him.

We've outlined the impact his arrival could have on the squad by highlighting one winner and one loser at City if they land the former Premier League defender...

Winner: Dan Bentley

When he was handed the club captaincy by Pearson at the start of the season, Dan Bentley will not have envisaged 2021/22 going the way it has.

The 28-year-old's regular heroics in previous campaigns had made him one of the first names on the team sheet but this has not been the easiest season.

He's kept just six clean sheets in 38 Championship games, conceding 56 times, and even lost his place to Max O'Leary for a period.

Bentley will admit he's not been at his best but the constantly changing cast of defenders ahead of him has certainly not helped.

The arrival of Davies would help to shore things up and add some more experience to the backline, which the Robins shot-stopper would surely benefit from.

You'd imagine he'd be pleased if City can get the deal over the line.

Loser: Zak Vyner

You have to feel that the arrival of another new centre-back, after Duncan Idehen's new contract and negotiations ongoing with Timm Klose about an extension, would spell the end of Zak Vyner's time at Ashton Gate.

The 24-year-old has fallen down the pecking order dramatically this season and played just 45 minutes of football since mid-February.

Vyner doesn't appear to be an option that Pearson fancies at right-back while the arrival of Davies would push him further out of favour in central defence.

The Robins academy product is under contract until 2023, with a further one-year extension, but would surely be a candidate to be sold were a deal to be agreed with the out-of-contract Derby defender.