Exclusive: David Prutton makes Everton claim as Bristol City face battle to retain player | OneFootball

EFL pundit David Prutton has said that Jason Knight would be tempted by a move to Everton amid rumours the Toffees are in for the Bristol City captain

Following their comprehensive Championship play-off semi-final defeat to Sheffield United, Bristol City are heading into something of an uncertain summer transfer window with captain Jason Knight now linked with a move to Premier League side Everton.

The Robins eventually squeezed their way into the top six on the final day of the campaign, coming from 2-0 down to earn a 2-2 draw with Preston North End at Ashton Gate after a slight stumble following what had been an excellent second-half to the season.

They were blown away in the first-leg at home by the Blades, with Rob Dickie’s red card late in the first-half making way for Sheffield United to run out as 3–0 winners before then winning by the same scoreline at Bramall Lane to complete an emphatic 6-0 aggregate victory over City.

Knight, who joined City from Derby County in the summer of 2023 for a fee believed to be in the region of £2 million, is now the subject of interest from Everton, according to TEAMtalk.

Speaking exclusively to the Football League World, EFL pundit David Prutton offered his thoughts on whether a move to the Toffees would be attractive to Knight and discussed the ambition of the play-off semi-final losers for next season.

David Prutton says Everton would be “hugely attractive”

Knight, who was instrumental in City’s rise through the Championship this season under the management of Liam Manning, has gained widespread plaudits and David Moyes’ Everton appear to be lining up a move for the 24-year-old Republic of Ireland international.

As to whether it would be something Knight would want, Prutton said: "I absolutely do think he would be tempted by a move to Everton. My word, a Premier League side coming in for you. One of many players who have overachieved expectation-wise with Bristol City.

"There is a decent core group of players there so I would be intrigued to know the script with Liam Manning there. I spoke to him in and around the play-offs and he was extremely disappointed but eyes firmly set on next season with only Nahki Wells out of contract."

Regardless of how keen Bristol City may be to keep their captain, Prutton believes it would definitely be a tempting move for Knight to make: "Whether there is ambition from Bristol City to keep him on board or whether a big price tag or a fee would persuade them to cash in; from a players’ point of view, Everton moving into a brand-new stadium with a manager who knows all about the Premier League would be a hugely attractive option."

Knight sale would be a blow to Bristol City

Dublin-born Knight, who came through the academy at Derby and has earned 37 caps for his national side, has been a key man throughout the season at Ashton Gate with his abilities as a box-to-box midfielder ideally suited to the smart but energetic style of play of Manning.

As Prutton says, only Nahki Wells is out of contract at the club this summer and there will be a belief that if they can keep the majority of their squad intact whilst adding a few more quality signings that they can not only repeat the same feat of reaching the play-offs next year but perhaps go a couple steps further and achieve Premier League promotion for the first time ever.

In each of the last three summer transfer windows, Bristol City have sold off one of their star talents, with Antoine Semenyo joining AFC Bournemouth in 2022, before England U21 international Alex Scott made the same move a year later and then Tommy Conway departed for Middlesbrough last summer.

The difference this time is that Bristol City have re-established themselves as legitimate promotion contenders rather than mid-table also-rans, so a departure of Knight’s importance this summer could be fairly viewed as a step backwards for the club.