Bristol City considering move for American striker Cooper

Bristol City are considering a move for highly-rated United States striker Kenny Cooper.

Robins boss Gary Johnson is in the market for a targetman to replace Dele Adebola, who left to join Championship rivals Nottingham Forest at the end of last season.

And the 6ft 3in former Manchester United youth- team player appears to meet City's requirements.

But rumours suggesting the 24-year-old Baltimore-born forward has already agreed a move to England are wide of the mark.

It is understood City have made an informal enquiry, but that is as far as things have progressed. No bid has been tabled for Cooper, who plays for Dallas in America's Major League Soccer (MLS).

Bristol City may not have declared their interest in Cooper formally, but Johnson has made no secret of his wish to fill the gap created by Adebola's departure.

David Clarkson, Nicky Maynard, Lee Trundle and John Akinde remain on the books at Ashton Gate, yet none are particularly strong in the air and Johnson is understood to have accorded the acquisition of a tall striker priority status.

Cooper is a powerful and aggressive player, who likes to drift wide and is adept at holding the ball up. He is also a proven finisher, having netted 40 times in 90 starts for FC Dallas.

A rising star on the other side of the Atlantic, Cooper was a target for Cardiff City last summer. Bluebirds manager Dave Jones had a bid of around £1.5m accepted by the MLS, who hold the player's contract, and the player travelled to Wales for talks.

Swedish outfit Rosenborg also expressed an interest, but Cooper eventually opted to sign a new deal with FC Dallas and enjoyed a successful season in the States, scoring 18 times and earning inclusion in the MLS's Best XI selection as voted for by the media.

Cooper's family boast a footballing pedigree and his father, Kenny senior, played in goal for Blackburn Rovers during the 1970s. The fact his father was born in Blackpool means Cooper will not require a visa to ply his trade in the United Kingdom.

The family moved to the United States when Kenny senior signed for Dallas and Cooper was educated in Texas. Manchester United spotted him when he was playing for Dallas Solar in the Dallas Cup youth tournament – and United scout Jim Ryan, a former Dallas team-mate of Cooper's father, invited him to Old Trafford for a trial.

During three seasons with United, Cooper went on loan to Portuguese club Academica Coimbra in the 2004-2005 season. He later joined Oldham on loan and scored three goals in five first-team starts.

Cooper made his international debut in January 2007, featuring in a 3-1 friendly win over Denmark. He went on to score the winner in a World Cup qualifier against Guatamala in November last year and came on as a substitute in a 3-2 victory over Sweden six months ago.

Although invited to attend a national team training camp ahead of a recent World Cup qualifier against Mexico, Cooper was omitted from the final squad.