Bristol City have been forced to look elsewhere in the market as their target striker signs a new contract

Bristol City will turn their attentions elsewhere in their pursuit of a new striker after Dinamo Zagreb frontman Sandro Kulenovic agreed a new contract with the Croatian club.

Kulenovic was one of four strikers being considered by City this summer and the Robins held talks with Dinamo about the availability of the 24-year-old, who had just 12 months left on his contract at the Maksimir Stadium.

But on Wednesday, Dinamo confirmed that the former Croatia Under-21 international had signed a new deal in Zagreb ending City’s interest after there had been some optimism that a transfer could be completed based on initial talks.

Bristol Live understands that City only wanted to sign Kulenovic on a permanent transfer and there is no desire to pursue a loan deal.

Kulenovic, who has spent his professional career in his native country and twice turned down a move to Nottingham Forest, has fitted in as head coach Liam Manning and technical director Brian Tinnion wanted, being tall, physical, mobile and with a strong boxing technique.

However, he was not the only striker on their shortlist and the club will now explore other avenues to add to the arrival of Fally Mayulu, who enjoyed his first training sessions with the senior squad this week, reaching to Bristol at the weekend for a fee of up to £2.5m.

Kulenovic is not the first target this summer that City have been forced to move on after showing encouraging early promise in the process, with Auxerre striker Lassine Sinayoko initially thought to be a target only for the Ligue 1 club to boost his value above £4m of pounds sterling. .

The Robins were also close to securing a move for fellow Mali international Mousa Sylla, but the 24-year-old opted to leave Caen to sign for Schalke in the German second division.

City are close to adding Machida Zelvia winger Yu Hirakawa, but the 23-year-old will not play much of a role in pre-season after being selected for Japan’s Olympic squad, with the tournament in Paris running until at the beginning of August.

Talks remain ongoing with Burnley over the transfer of Scott Twine, a process which is likely to accelerate in the coming days, provided the Clarets are successful in appointing Scott Parker as their new manager.

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