Millen targets loan market

Keith Millen is poised to delve into the loan market in a bid to replenish his depleted Bristol City defence.

So far this summer, the City boss has missed out on Gareth McAuley and Billy Jones, who both went to West Brom, Steven Caulker (Swansea), Andrew Taylor (Cardiff) and Jordan Spence, who signed a new long-term deal with West Ham.

And after becoming frustrated with his failure to land his first-choice targets, Millen now admits he will be turning his attention to the loan market in his search for new recruits.

"I'm looking at a number of options and the loan market seems to hold out the best hope of us getting what we want," Millen told the Bristol Evening Post from the club's pre-season base in Portugal.

"We've missed out on a few players to Premier League clubs, while other clubs have been asking silly money. My squad is too big and my hands are tied to a degree when it comes to paying fees.

"That's why I'm now looking at possible loan signings. There are four players we're looking at right now and I'll be delighted if I can land two of them.

"We're talking about younger players with Premier League clubs, but all have experience of first-team football and could do a good job for us in the Championship."

Premier League rules stipulate that club's have to name their 25-man squad's no later than 1 September, and that every team must have at least eight home-grown players.

One player believed to be on Millen's loan radar is West Brom's highly-rated former Rochdale centre-back Craig Dawson, although City are expected to face competition from Barnsley for his signature.

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