BRISTOL City today rubbished reports suggesting they are in the market for defenders Ryan Bennett and Joel Lynch.

The Championship club have been linked with the pair by various media sources in recent days, with Sky Sports alleging a firm offer for Nottingham Forest left-back Lynch.
Robins boss Keith Millen is also rumoured to be showing interest in central defender Bennett, who became Peterborough United's record signing when he moved from Grimsby Town to London Road two seasons ago.
But a City spokesman has told the Evening Post these stories are wide of the mark and denies any move for either Lynch or Bennett.

He said: "I have an idea where these stories come from, but they are plain wrong.

"Keith Millen is working his way through lists of targets and has been doing so for some time. But these are names that have simply not featured at all. This time of year is not known as the 'silly season' for no reason and there are a lot of agents putting names about because they want to generate interest in their players.

"Unfortunately, some in the media are only too happy to turn rumours into firm stories and these are, in most cases, misleading.

"It is not helpful but, in these days of internet forums and websites, it has become part and parcel of the game."

When asked if there was any truth in rumours linking City with Montenegro youth international defender Danilo Sarkic, the Ashton Gate source admitted: "That is a name we have never even heard of!"

The Post understands Millen did show interest in Forest youngster Lynch earlier in the year, making an enquiry during the January transfer window, at a time when regular left-back Jamie McAllister was sidelined by injury. But Forest were not prepared to allow Lynch to leave and City's manager has since turned his search elsewhere.

As revealed in the Evening Post earlier this month, Billy Jones remains Millen's number one target as he seeks to provide competition for McAllister, whose position as first-choice left-back has been virtually unchallenged for five seasons.
Out of contract at the end of last season, the former Crewe defender is refusing to sign a new deal for relegated Preston North End and is aware of City's interest.
There has already been contact between City and the 24-year-old's agent and Millen is monitoring the situation as it develops.

City's manager has made no secret of his desire to bolster a defence that was hit hard by injuries last season and he is in the market for a left-back, right-back and centre-half.

Millen has made public his desire to sign Tottenham's Steven Caulker, the England Under-21 international centre-back, who spent last season on loan at Ashton Gate.

He is also targeting Jordan Spence, the West Ham United right-back, who made such a good impression while on loan at City during the final two months of the Championship campaign.
Spence is out of contract at Upton Park and must wait until the Hammers appoint a new manager to succeed the sacked Avram Grant before he knows whether he will be offered new terms.

Meanwhile, City target Yannick Bolasie was due at Ashton Gate today for talks with new Robins chairman Colin Sexstone.
League Two strugglers Plymouth Argyle have accepted a cut-price bid for the 22-year-old winger and French-born Bolasie will become a City player within the next 24 hours, providing he agrees personal terms and passes a medical examination