Bristol City deny deal for Cooper

Cooper has scored 40 goals in 90 starts for FC Dallas

Bristol City have denied making a bid for United States international striker Kenny Cooper.

Manager Gary Johnson is in the market for a target-man but says newspaper reports claiming the club have agreed a £2m deal are wide of the mark.

"We do know of him of course but we've been following a lot of strikers," Johnson told BBC Radio Bristol.

The 24-year-old plays for Major League Soccer side Dallas and was at Manchester United early in his career.

City still need to replace Dele Adedola who left the club to join Nottingham Forest on a free transfer.

Johnson confirmed: "We need an experienced number nine and if we find that I'll be happy. John Akinde shows signs of being that player but he's only 19 so he's got potential."

Johnson seeks brotherly advice

Former Swindon keeper Peter Brezovan played the second half of City's 4-0 defeat by Ajax, after Adriano Basso withdrew from the squad with an injury.

"Adriano Basso pulled out and Dean Gerken has a slight strain so I didn't want the embarrassment of not having a keeper. My brother Pete [City's chief scout] looked at his list and got Peter Brezovan in."

The 29-year-old Slovakian may now be invited to train with the club this week, with Johnson refusing to rule out offering the player a contract.

"We've got to be sure we've got enough cover, because every now and again Basso pulls out, and late on sometimes," he said.

The club will not be offering deals to Finland international Alexei Eremenko or Greek defender Grigorios Papazacharias.