Contract impasse means that Bristol City's Callum O'Dowda could leave Ashton Gate in summer Big decision looming for Irishman at the end of the campaign Robins fans may have to be patient as they ponder the future of Irish winger Callum O'Dowda. That's according to our latest update on where we understand things lie regarding the 15 cap international. BristolLive understands that there is little prospect currently of O'Dowda signing a long-term contract renewal before the summer despite CEO Mark Ashton having recently explained back in January that he would be conducting more discussions on extending the 23-year-old's stay at Ashton Gate. It unfortunately means that Bristol City could be set to lose another of their best young players this coming summer - should Lee Johnson's team not be promoted to the English top tier. Further, we understand as per our sources that there are Premier League clubs watching developments very closely. Should City remain in the Championship next season then O'Dowda will have just a year left on his current deal, following the club confirming that an option year had been triggered in the winger's contract back in January. That announcement only confirmed what was already known with the Irishman signed up until the summer of 2020. But with significant interest there is every likelihood that O'Dowda will have a big decision to make on his future in the summer. If he opts against renewing his contract with bigger fish circling, then the club will face the same situation as they did with Bobby Reid and Joe Bryan last summer: ie, that they will have to cash in on their asset or see the player leave for free a year later or for a much reduced fee in the January window. Leeds United were of course heavily linked with the player in the January window and while the Robins would be loathe to see O'Dowda head to another Championship side, they would almost certainly step aside to let O'Dowda join a top tier outfit if the right offer was made. At the pre-Wolves press conference we asked O'Dowda's good mate Josh Brownhill if he could persuade the former Oxford United midfielder to put pen to paper on a new deal. "I've been trying my best [to get him to sign a new deal]," said Brownhill last Thursday. "He’s a very good player and everyone wants him to stay. "I’ve not really spoken to him about what’s happening behind the scenes. It’s to do with him and the club. Obviously I want him to stay: he’s a great player," said the midfielder. O'Dowda's good form has seen him start the last 13 games straight since coming on to set up the winning goal at Birmingham on December 8. And there will be hope that regular first-team football and the Robins being in the ascendancy will convince the Irishman to pledge his longer term future in BS3. He has scored and assisted six times in the last 14 Bristol City matches. "We want to keep him as long as we can," said head coach Lee Johnson of O'Dowda recently following the 0-1 win at Nottingham Forest. "First and foremost, Callum is a fantastic human being and I think that's important for the culture at the football club. "It [the announced contract option year] wasn't a reaction to speculation. I don't want to lose Callum. "We lost four or five good players last summer and that's put us in a [financial] position where we now don't have to lose our best players. "I'm a big champion of his because I believe in him and I think you saw his athleticism and calmness and composure on the ball today. He's still got things to improve on with his end product in terms of goals and assists but certainly the potential is there to play at the very top level." Bristol City play Norwich City at 3pm on Saturday next. https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/sport.../contract-impasse-means-bristol-citys-2557066
I think we already knew this - likely to be a case of 'win promotion or be forced to sell', and even then he might well move on for a pay rise/to join a bigger club. No doubt we'll have people whine about us needing to stop being a 'selling club' and/or complaining why we didn't give him a longer contract in the first place, but it's the reality of football that players are ambitious and want to reach as high a level as possible, and part of us being able to entice bright young talents is the understanding that we will help develop them and not stand in their way if the Premiership is an option. Hopefully he will stay, but if he does move on then we should be grateful for the service he's given us and the (hopefully) sizeable transfer profit made on him. Eliasson coming in wouldn't be much of a step down in my opinion (acknowledging that they're different types of players) and it would be interesting to see who was brought in next.
Move him on if he wants away,similar situation with Reid one good season and they think they are unplayable,run before they can walk.
Evening Post in state the obvious shock. He has no incentive to sign a new contract now if I were him I would wait as well. And if he goes well so be it we already have a replacement in Adalakun
I have a feeling his replacement may already be at the club. Adelakun had a bad injury and hasn't featured this season. LJ talked about him being the next Albert Adomah so clearly believes he has potential. Eliasson took a year before he started to show us what he could do. I'm hoping next season Adelakun will do the same.
Ha ha. My typing was so slow your post wasn't there when I started. We're on the same wavelength obviously.
I imagine he’ll leave it and see if larger clubs are interested. Personally if we get a decent offer in the summer I’d sell.
