FEEL FREE: Bristol City owner insists he will not stop Antoine Semenyo from joining English Premier League club this summer

Bristol City are not only struggling to make signings in their pursuit of a deadly versatile player, but the EFL Championship club could be without one of their key players.

The Robins owner Stephen Lansdown has insisted he will not stand in Antoine Semenyo’s way if any Premier League club make a move for the striker before the summer transfer window closes.

Semenyo, 22, was in magnificent form for Bristol last season, scoring eight goals, producing twelve assists in thirty-one matches, but is now being linked with a move away.

Crystal Palace, West Ham, Bournemouth and Brighton have been linked with a strong interest in the striker, and could make a move should the English-born Guernsey billionaire approve of the deal as the top tier clubs toddle down in the race to sign the Ghanaian.

"Antoine is under contract and he's got two years, and we don't need to sell him and we don't want to sell him. So like all these things you have to make offers to make you change your mind because that money can be reinvested to bolster the rest of the squad.

"We did it with Adam Webster, we didn't want him to go but he was adamant he wanted to so we put a price-tag on him that gave us a good return on him. That's business.

"I think the transfer market is only with the Premier League sides. They have the capital to do it and the owners who can put the money in to do something but strictly speaking, I don't think that's there anymore.

"Why would Antoine want to go to someone else in the Championship? They have fantastic facilities here, it's a great club to be a part of, great team-mates and a progression that they can see in their own careers but when a Premier League club comes in for them that's when it's difficult to turn down and I wouldn't stand in their way," Lansdown told the media.

Bristol City manager Nigel Pearson has indicated that Antoine Semenyo is nearing a return to action after revealing that the goal poacher believes he is fit to play.

By: Pascal Nii Gogo Amoah