Liam Manning makes 'transparent' Bristol City transfer admission ahead of Oxford United clash

Liam Manning has admitted it is "looking quite doubtful" that Bristol City will add to their squad before the end of the January transfer window, ahead of the Robins' clash with Oxford United.

The Reds are one of just four Championship clubs yet to make an addition so far this month with Leeds United, Coventry City and Sheffield Wednesday the only other teams yet to bolster their ranks since the window opened at the start of 2025.

City have until 11pm on Monday to complete any remaining business both in and out of Ashton Gate as they look to bolster their hopes of a top-six finish this season having managed to remain within touching distance of the play-off positions in the first two-thirds of the campaign so far.

Although supporters have been keen to see both a new number nine and centre-back arrive in the West Country, particularly after Fally Mayulu and Kal Naismith's loan exits, Manning is expecting to have the same squad at his disposal between now and May. However, he didn't completely shut the door on any last-minute deals.

"It's looking quite doubtful, to be honest," the City head coach admitted on Wednesday. "That comes down to two things, some of it budgetary. We had quite a big summer in terms of what we brought in, so it's looking quite unlikely that financially we'll be able to and to the same point, it's not always about adding.

"I've said a little bit around keeping your core ones which when you look at the squad, look at this January versus last January when we finished the window, it's a lot stronger now and we've got a lot more options, more depth and more quality so for me when you look at it there's that. When you look at January, it's always a difficult window.

"Ultimately, you're either paying top dollar because people are doing well, or you're gambling on people who have not been in squads or have not been fit. For me, you can probably look at last January, there are a few clubs who did a good job of it and there are a few clubs that recruited and got it wrong for me and that can unsettle things.

"If you had an open chequebook and you could go and get anyone would you add? Of course you would, but financially we're not in a position to do that. I don't want it to take away from the group we've got here because I do have so much belief in the lads we've got here and that's why when you look who's out there and who's available, is it a massive upgrade on what we've got? There isn't in terms of that.

"It's always one of those in January, and any window, people want to see business done, get people in, get people out. But I think there's a real strength in the group we've got here, the consistency, people knowing how we play and what we do. For me, that's where all my energy will be going into."

Bristol City Live on Whatsapp

Join Bristol City Live's Whatsapp community for all the biggest Bristol City stories sent straight to your phone

Bristol City Live is now on WhatsApp and we want you to join our community.

Through the app, we’ll send the Bristol City news, live match coverage, team news, transfers, fixtures, analysis and more straight to your phone.

To join our community you need to already have WhatsApp. All you need to do is click this link and select ‘Join Community’.

No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Bristol Live team.

We also treat community members to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out at any time you like.

To leave our community, click on the name at the top of your screen and choose ‘Exit group’.

If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.

Click here to join our WhatsApp community.

While the Bristol City head coach has been open in his expectation that the winter transfer window would be quiet in the build-up to and throughout January, he had admitted earlier in the window that he would be willing to see the Robins explore the loan market to bolster their ranks in the second half of the campaign.

During Nigel Pearson's time in charge at Ashton Gate, the Reds very rarely utilised loan signings but under Manning's management, City have been more willing to sign players on a temporary basis. Yu Hirakawa and George Earthy moved to the West Country on loan last summer and last January saw Scott Twine and Dire Mebude do the same.

However, the Robins head coach has confirmed he is unlikely to make any temporary additions to his squad before Monday night's deadline with the financial aspects of any such deal playing a part in his decision.

"It's a possibility," Manning replied when asked if the loan market could be utilised. "But again, some of it comes down to finances, what you can do and is it worth bringing someone in for the sake of it?

"Again, I'll be transparent, it's quite unlikely we're going to do anything."