Gerhard Struber has been open about his desire to add a striker to his Bristol City squad at Ashton Gate during the January transfer windowBristol City boss Gerhard Struber watches from the touchline(Image: EFL)

Gerhard Struber has shed further light on Bristol City’s search for a new striker, with the head coach hopeful such a deal can be completed ahead of the Robins’ clash with Watford, even if it is not entirely in their own hands.

The January transfer window has now been open for four days, and in that time, the Reds have played two games. After kicking off the new year in an impressive fashion against Portsmouth, City missed the chance to climb back into the top six as they were beaten 2-0 by Preston North End on Sunday afternoon.

Both prior to the win over Pompey and the weekend’s defeat to the Lilywhites, Struber has explained his desire to add a new centre-forward to his squad during the course of the next month, having already seen Sam Morsy arrive to bolster his midfield options.

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The Austrian suggested such a deal was “close” on New Year’s Eve, before confirming that he hoped progress had been made on New Year’s Day.

Now, a few days on, he is still optimistic that something can be finalised in “the next few days,” but he’s also explained just why making such an addition is far from simple.

“I think we have to speak tomorrow again with our management group (about) what’s going on,” the head coach told Bristol Live on the bid to add to his squad after City’s defeat to North End. “I hope that we make or [have] made the next step, hopefully.

“We see that we are a really good team in the Championship, but we should do a little bit [so] that we are more unpredictable, so that we have – in the end – a stronger roster.

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“In this direction, I hope we can finalise that [in] the next few days.”

Asked if he expected to have a new face through the door ahead of the FA Cup clash with Watford, Struber replied, “I have wishes, and of course, I am in good exchange with all my management group and also with Steve, my owner, so I hope we can do it.

“But it’s not only in our hands. Especially when you have an interesting player on your list, you have to deal with the club from him, [and] you have to deal with the player.

“We want to do it, and we are crystal clear in this way, but we have to be also clinical in the next few days.”

Away from potential incomings, Struber has also made no secret of his feeling that some of the younger members of his first-team squad would benefit from gaining senior experience on loan away from Ashton Gate during the second half of the season.

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While Elijah Morrison was one such player mentioned by name, Josh Stokes has been the player most notably linked with a temporary move away from the West Country this month after Struber revealed on New Year’s Eve that the Robins had been “in exchange” with clubs over the attacking midfielder.

Social media speculation, as well as reports from local media, have suggested that the 21-year-old will likely spend the remainder of the campaign in League One with Stockport County.

Although the Reds boss stopped short of naming Dave Challinor’s side directly, he did admit that a move to Edgeley Park could well be in the offing for Stokes.

“He’s really close,” Struber said on Stokes’ potential temporary departure this winter. “I would say maybe on a good way to a good loan deal.”

When asked if such a deal would see him join Stockport, the head coach added, “[It] could go in this direction.”

OPINION

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