Here is what the This is Bristol site are saying, it makes for very interesting reading I think; LEICESTER City manager Sven-Goran Eriksson is refusing to give up his pursuit of Nicky Maynard. Bristol City's star striker has been the subject of three bids from the Foxes, who have identified the 24-year- old as their main target this summer after losing out to Brighton in the race for Peterborough forward Craig Mackail-Smith. But the Robins have so far stood firm and are refusing to sell their most prolific goal-scorer to a rival npower Championship club. As revealed in the Post in June, Leicester made an initial bid of £2 million last month, which was turned down by City. The Foxes came back in with an improved offer of £3m on Tuesday night and, when that was rejected, turned up the pressure on City by tabling a bid worth just over £4m in total. Although City's board of directors have made their position clear â Maynard has a year of his contract to run and is a key part of manager Keith Millen's planning for next season â Foxes boss Eriksson is refusing to take no for an answer. The Post understands Leicester, who are owned by the wealthy Asia Football consortium, are now considering making a fourth bid in a final attempt to test City's resolve. But City chairman Colin Sexstone is adamant the club will not sell their prized asset to a Championship rival and he insists he is confident Maynard will remain at Ashton Gate and sign the contract that was offered to him at the end of last season. He told the Post: "Once again we have made clear our position. We do not want to sell Nicky, especially to a rival club in our division. "Talks continue with Nicky and his representatives with regard to a new contract." Signed from Crewe Alexandra for a club-record fee of £2.25m in July 2008, Maynard has scored 38 Championship goals in three seasons, establishing himself as one of the hottest properties outside of the Barclays Premier League. Although every player has his price, City will not want to risk upsetting their supporters by selling the Cheshire-born striker to another Championship club. City officials are refusing to put a price on Maynard's head, but are understandably reluctant to let him enter the final year of his contract without a new deal having been agreed. Although talks between club and player are continuing, Maynard is expected to delay signing a new deal until the transfer window shuts at the end of August, preferring to keep his options open in case a Premier League club comes in for him. But newspaper rumours linking him with a host of top-flight clubs have, so far at least, proved totally unfounded, with Leicester the only suitors. Former England manager Eriksson is a confirmed admirer of Maynard and has made him his No 1 target after missing out on the highly-rated Mackail-Smith, who joined Brighton in a deal worth £3.25m earlier this week. Eriksson has money to spend in the transfer market and it remains to be seen if City will be tempted by an offer of around £5m. I really hope that they can it would give us some fantastic striking options for the new Season.
