Bristol City host Forest in the Championship on Saturday.
Lee Johnson has confirmed via the Bristol Post that Nottingham Forest midfielder Henri Lansbury was a target for Bristol City.
Lansbury is set to return from suspension to face the Robins at Ashton Gate on Saturday, but could have been lining up in home colours had former boss Steve Cotterill had his way.
The former Arsenal trainee was initially linked with a move to City at the start of last summer’s transfer window, upon the club’s promotion back to the Championship.
However, he remained a target even after the arrival of Johnson in February this year, although the Robins have since added Gary O’Neil and Josh Brownhill in the centre of the park.
“He was certainly one the previous regime were looking at strongly,” Johnson told the Bristol Post. “They saw him as a good player who could do well in the Championship.
“He was on a list from the previous manager and I took that on board, because you would be silly to rule anything out. But it obviously didn’t get anywhere.
“Lansbury is a good player, we all know him well and I took all the advice (from City staff) on board. But I had other targets in mind and it never got anywhere near the point where we made an offer or anything like that.”
Despite last season being one of mediocrity for Forest, Lansbury continued to impress and was again linked with a move away from the City Ground during this summer’s transfer window, with Burnley showing an interest according to the Nottingham Post.
However, the 25-year-old remained a Reds player, despite having entered the final year of his deal in July.
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