Gerhard Struber must make ‘incredible’ star his first Bristol City signing, ex-Barnsley boss knows him well

Add as preferred source on Google

Bristol City are poised to complete the appointment of former FC Koln boss Gerhard Struber after the departure of Liam Manning.

In the weeks following the Championship play-off semi-final defeat to Sheffield United, the exit of the Robins boss was confirmed, after Norwich City hired Liam Manning.

As a result, Bristol City were in search of a new manager, with a handful of candidates linked with the Ashton Gate job.

Over the weekend, it was confirmed that Bristol City’s search came to two final candidates on the shortlist, which saw former Luton Town boss Rob Edwards and former Barnsley manager Gerhard Struber become the leading names for the role.

However, Telegraph reporter John Percy revealed on X that Struber is set to be appointed by Bristol City as their new manager.

As such, there is one “incredible” Championship star he should make his first summer signing as the new Robins head coach.

• READ MORE: Sergej Jakirovic dealt first major Hull City blow as ‘amazing’ star poised to leave for Liga MX outfit

Gerhard Struber must make Michal Helik his first Bristol City signing

Struber was recently sacked by eventual Bundesliga Two champions FC Koln, departing the German giants with an impressive 53 percent win rate during his one-season spell.

His arrival at Ashton Gate has been fiercely debated, and Bristol City have been warned about Struber’s demands, after his extraordinary rant during his Tykes stint.

Before becoming Koln boss, Struber had spells with Salzburg and New York Red Bulls, and before those jobs, he was the Barnsley manager from November 2019 until October 2020.

Struber inherited a Tykes team that were bottom of the second tier, without a win in their previous 15 games, but managed to keep Barnsley safe from League One relegation in style with back-to-back victories over now Premier League duo Nottingham Forest and Brentford.

Before Struber left Barnsley for Red Bulls, the Tykes signed Polish centre-back Michal Helik from KS Cracovia. Since then, Helik has gone on to cement himself as one of the Championship’s best central defenders with Oxford United.

As per the Oxford Mail, U’s boss Gary Rowett has said of Helik this season: “He’s been an absolutely incredible signing. He’s a great guy, he’s a great leader. You see the goals he’s got that have been absolutely vital.

“He looks like scoring every time the ball goes in the box. He’s got that sort of knack. He’s been immense.”

The deal may be difficult for Bristol City to complete, but Helik’s statistics show how much of a brilliant coup it would be for Struber.

• READ MORE: Norwich City must sign ‘unbelievable’ 23-goal striker as Josh Sargent targeted by Leeds United

Oxford United ace Michal Helik’s stats in 24/25 Championship

Although he was sacked a short while after Helik arrived at Barnsley, Struber will have been well aware of his capabilities.

The Tykes’ chief executive Dane Murphy then told Barnsley’s website: “We have been looking at Michal for a long time. He’s exactly the kind of defender we covet and will complement our backline.”

Helik spent two years with the Tykes before he was snapped up by Huddersfield Town in 2022, where he went on to score 13 goals in 100 appearances from defence.

In this season’s January window, the towering Polish defender was bought by Oxford, and he scored five goals in 20 games for the U’s this season to help secure second tier survival.

A player of Helik’s calibre should be playing for a promotion-chasing side like Bristol City rather than a relegation-threatened one in Oxford.

As such, with Bristol City in need of defensive recruits given Luke McNally’s long-term injury, the new Robins boss must reunite with the ex-Barnsley man this summer.