Bristol City and Gerhard Struber have until September 1 to add to their ranks during the summer transfer windowGerhard Struber was named Bristol City boss this summer(Image: Photo by Robin Jones – AFC Bournemouth/AFC Bournemouth via Getty Images)

Gerhard Struber would prefer to make permanent additions to his Bristol City squad in the final days of the transfer window rather than loan signings, the Reds boss has confirmed, with it possible “one or other” player could depart Ashton Gate before the September 1 deadline.

So far this summer, the Robins have added four new faces to their ranks, three on a permanent basis and one on loan. Adam Randell, Joe Lumley, and Emil Riis have all penned long-term deals in BS3, while Radek Vitek joined Struber’s side in south Bristol on a season-long loan from Manchester United last month, with the aim of providing more competition between the posts.

Although that early business has ensured that City are well stocked in the majority of positions, Struber has made no secret of his desire to, and confidence that the Reds will, make another addition or two to his squad before the transfer window closes at the start of next month.

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Ahead of his side’s trip to Pride Park to face Derby County on Friday evening, the head coach remains optimistic that such signings will be made in the “next few days”, with permanent transfers his preference ahead of further loan additions.

“We know this is always a topic of different strategies, what’s going on in the last few days and last few weeks, so it’s always the same, it’s nothing changed,” the head coach explained in his pre-match press conference on Wednesday afternoon. “In this direction, we know what we want and we know what we need.

“At the same time, I think we trust the process and we hope we can finish the one or other new player in the next few days.

“I would like to have permanent transfers,” Struber added when asked by Bristol Live if the Robins could utilise the loan market again this summer. “I think then it’s crystal clear.

“And for the boys, in more directions, I think it’s very helpful that they have in the end a club with a big commitment and a big connection. In this direction, I would prefer more a permanent transfer.

Radek Vitek has been Bristol City’s only loan signing so far this summer(Image: Photo by Rogan/Bristol City)

“We have not so long time so the timeframe is very clear,” he continued. “We have until the end of the month. I would like to do it as soon as possible, but not everything is in my hands, so in more directions, we are dependent on something.

“But again, I am looking forward and I have trust that we can do it and a big belief that we can do it in the next few days.”

So far this summer, City have managed to avoid too many high-profile first-team exits. The only notable movement out of BS3 since the end of last season has seen Nahki Wells join Luton Town on a free transfer upon the expiry of his contract, Seb Palmer-Houlden join Gillingham, and Marcus McGuane drop into League One permanently with Huddersfield Town.

However, in an interview with BBC Radio Bristol ahead of last Saturday’s draw with Charlton Athletic, Reds CEO Tom Rawcliffe explained that the Robins would have to consider sanctioning further exits in the final weeks of the transfer window, given the size of their current squad.

When asked if he’d held discussions with players who could benefit from a move away from Ashton Gate, Struber said: “Yeah, of course. We have very open discussions with the players, and I think this is important.

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“They have only one career, and it’s my duty to be super open with the players in all directions, and we have to find good ways. A player needs always a chance of gametime, and my feeling is, when we have no chance of gametime together, it’s better that I speak openly with the player and maybe they find a different idea to do something.

“Also with Tom, I think we have here, good discussions, a good exchange about what’s going on in the roster and what we need. We are here on the same page, at the same time, we have a budget, so of course, we have to think realistically.

“We know that we have to bring the one or other player from the academy into the spotlight. So in more directions, we have a mission and all the challenges, and with a small budget, we have to deal and do the best that we can do.

“In this way, we work and at the same time, I am very, very hopeful, looking forward, that we can get the one or other player in. Maybe also, we lose the one or other player, maybe in a different direction.

“This is normal, this is football.”

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