Bristol City have flown in Ghana international defender Jonathan Quartey for a week-long trial at Ashton Gate, according to his club coach Bobby Motaung.
Quartey featured in the 2005 FIFA U17 World Cup for his country and has since won several senior caps for the Black Stars after impressing for South African club side the Kaizer Chiefs.
The 20-year-old came to the attention of English scouts with a goal from the penalty spot against Manchester United when the Premier League club toured South Africa last summer and he now has seven days to impress City boss Gary Johnson.
Motaung confirmed on the Kaizer Chief's club website, “Jonathan left the country (on Wednesday night) for a week trial with Bristol City. The club is looking for two defenders and they approached us about the player.
“It is not our policy to stand in the player’s way when an overseas opportunity comes up. Jonathan has shown a lot of potential as a player since joining the team last season. His call up to the Black Stars was a testimony of his talent. We wish him all the best during the trial.”
Johnson revealed last night the club are looking at a number of trialists this week and expects to run his eye over them in a Gloucestershire Cup match against Cirencester on Tuesday and a behind-closed-doors fixture next week.
His latest acquisition, Slovakian striker Peter Styvar was signed from MSK Zilina when the January transfer window opened following a trial before Christmas, and Adriano Basso is another City player who earned a contract after spending time with the club.
At 6ft 1in the central defender could provide extra cover for captain Louis Carey as City cast around for a long-term successor to their local hero who turns 32 next week. The Ghanaian is in his second season with the Kaizer Chiefs and came close to joining Red Star Belgrade before Christmas but failed to impress in a trial and remained with the Kaizer Chiefs.
Kaizer Chiefs head coach Muhsin Ertugral said: “(Quartey) has played the last six or seven games for the Ghana senior national team and so there is bound to be interest. I have even had enquires from my home country (Turkey) about him.”
Johnson has kept his transfer dealings close to his chest but confided that City are in the hunt for reinforcements and has the backing of City chairman Steve Lansdown to spend - if and when the right player is found.
"While January's there you can’t ever judge,” said Johnson. “It only takes one phonecall, from us, or from somebody else, going in or going out.”
The one thing he doesn’t intend to do is make any knee-jerk reactions as the window nears its close.
“People do tend to panic towards the end of January when suddenly something hasn't happened. We won't panic, that's for sure.
“We'd like to keep some form of continuity at the club. If you look at the clubs who have had lots of loans like Charlton, Norwich, they end up going back and all of a sudden they find themselves really struggling and can't get players in now for love nor money because people don't want to go to struggling teams.
“Obviously people do what they need to do and I feel that we done ok and if the right situation comes along, we'll do something, and if not, we'll get behind these lads."
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