Liam Manning provides Mark Sykes contract update after Bristol City reject Stoke City offer

Liam Manning has confirmed that there has been transfer interest in Bristol City winger Mark Sykes but insists that he doesn't see the winger "going anywhere" this month, with talks ongoing about activating the extension in his contract.

Bristol Live understands that Stoke City are interested in the Republic of Ireland winger and have seen a bid rejected by the Robins for his services this month, as first reported by Football League World, with the Reds believed to be keen to keep the former Oxford United man at Ashton Gate beyond the end of the winter transfer window.

Sykes returned to the City starting line-up with a bang in their 2-2 draw with Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough and featured from the bench as they ran out 2-1 winners against Blackburn Rovers on Saturday afternoon. After the win over John Eustace's side, Manning insisted that he was not aware of the speculation surrounding the versatile wideman.

The 27-year-old's contract at Ashton Gate is set to expire at the end of the season, but the Robins do hold the option to extend his stay by a further 12 months. While that option has not yet been activated, the City head coach revealed that conversations were "ongoing" around Sykes' future.

"There's been a little bit of interest yeah," the Reds head coach confirmed on Wednesday. "I sat with Syksey yesterday and again today and I think it's one of those.

"He's really happy here, he's enjoying it. I think he's really hit a level recently with us, I know before the injury and since coming back he's done extremely well. I had a good chat with Syksey, for me I don't see him going anywhere.

"Those conversations [around his extension] are ongoing at the minute."

Bristol City are yet to make a single addition to their first-team squad this month, with the only movement in or out of Ashton Gate seeing a number of players exit the West Country on loan for the remainder of the season.

Rob Atkinson is set to spend the second half of the Championship season with Portsmouth, Fally Mayulu has returned to Austria with Sturm Graz for the rest of the campaign and Kal Naismith has rejoined Luton Town on a temporary basis, with his contract at Ashton Gate set to expire this summer.

Harry Cornick was another player expected to depart BS3 this month, with Manning admitting in December the forward would be allowed to explore his options when the transfer window opened, having not played a single minute of Championship football so far this season.

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No such move has yet come to fruition for the former Luton Town man and while the City head coach insists that nothing is currently imminent in terms of further outgoings, he understands that can change at this late stage of the transfer window.

"There's nothing close at the minute," Manning insisted when asked if any outgoing were close. "You'd never rule anything out. There's nothing close on anybody.

"For me, there's nothing imminent and I think it's a case of making sure we get ready for the weekend and see what happens when things come in."

The Robins have until 11pm on Monday evening to get their incoming and outgoing business completed before the window closes again until the summer. Manning has played down the chances of adding to his squad before the deadline but at this stage of the month, things can change incredibly quickly.