Gerhard Struber can solve Bristol City’s biggest problem this summer by signing one of these three strikers

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Everything is changing at Bristol City this summer, with Gerhard Struber now in place to take over from Liam Manning, and he’s got one big task to complete.

Bristol City defied the odds and surprised everyone by claiming a place in the top six last season and qualifying for the Championship play-offs.

Even in the wake of a record-breaking, heavy defeat to Sheffield United in the semi-finals, the Robins still came away with praise for making it that far.

Liam Manning caught the eye with his fairly simple, hard-working style of play; so much so that Norwich City have now snapped him up as their new manager.

That paves the way for Gerhard Struber to come in and mix things up now. But, if there’s one thing Bristol City have been lacking, it’s firepower. So, here are three strikers Struber must try and sign to give his new side a cutting edge.

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Three strikers Bristol City must target this summer

Emil Riis Jakobsen

It’s hard to think of a striker better suited to Bristol City’s general ethos than Emil Riis. He’s set to become a free agent this month with his Preston North End contract coming to an end, and comes off the back of a 12-goal campaign for a side fighting relegation.

That’s good going for any striker in the second tier, and Riis would offer the ideal outlet for Bristol City’s industrious approach to football. We know Struber prefers to play two up top, meaning Riis could be the dream target man to play alongside a smaller striker.

Callum Robinson

Speaking of smaller strikers, Callum Robinson could be the perfect partner for Riis up front. The Cardiff City man also had a solid campaign despite being in the relegation battle, with 12 goals to his name for the Bluebirds.

Talk of a switch to Wrexham emerged at the start of the summer transfer window but that has gone quiet now. Still, he is surely primed for a move back to the second tier rather than playing in League One. With his athleticism, sharp-shooting, and footballing intelligence, Robinson would add a new dimension to Bristol City.

Richard Kone

If Bristol City really fancy splashing the cash, however, the more expensive solution to their striker issues would be Richard Kone. Birmingham and Middlesbrough are keen on Kone already, but they’re not alone. With just one year left on his current contract, Wycombe Wanderers may find it hard to resist a decent offer this summer.

Kone scored 21 goals and registered five assists last season, and while we have to take into consideration the fact he did that in League One (and in more game time than the others on this list), there is no denying how potent the Ivorian is.

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Can Bristol City compete among the top six again in 2025/26?

Losing Liam Manning is, and will continue to be, a huge blow to Bristol City. He was the driving force behind that modest squad, and Struber will need to come in and win over the players very quickly.

There will also need to be a solid string of new Bristol City signings to freshen up the roster and add a touch more quality to the playing staff. The likes of Scott Twine, Jason Knight, and Max O’Leary are all brilliant players, but they need more support.

Talk of a potential takeover by Turki Alalshikh could help in that regard. Although, to be fair, the Lansdown family are not exactly strapped for cash, and they’ll now need to back Struber to take the club forward.

Based on Struber’s past rants against the Barnsley owners for a lack of ambition, you’d think the Bristol City chiefs knew what they were letting themselves in for with this appointment, and must trust Struber to be the right man for the job.

It’s highly unlikely we’ll see Bristol City in the top six again in 2025/26, especially given the increased competition with the likes of Birmingham, Wrexham, Ipswich, and Southampton next season.

Then again, no one would have predicted a play-off berth for Bristol City last season, so maybe we’ll all be proven wrong again.