Nigel Pearson hasn't shied away from the fact he will look to target a central defender in the January transfer window if finances allow.
However given his comments in the wake of the Sheffield United defeat, when revealing he missed out on a loan move for Reda Khadra, that's enough evidence in itself to suggest that there's still a missing piece to the puzzle going forward.
At the beginning of November, Pearson said the Bristol City dressing room could benefit from having a maverick and matchwinner to "keep him on his toes." Despite the strengths going forward, the Robins had a period before the World Cup break when they found it difficult to unlock teams who come to Ashton Gate and sit back.
Funds are likely to be limited unless one of the big guns leaves but the desire to land Khadra on loan in the summer is likely to mean there are some funds available to get at least one temporary deal over the line.
We've plucked out six names who could fill that void should City opt to go down that route in the New Year.
Anis Mehmeti
Just like Jamie Vardy when Nigel Pearson plucked him out from the non-league as Leicester manager, Mehmeti has had to put in the hard graft with his stock in League One on the rise. Before joining Wycombe, the 21-year-old attacking midfielder was on the books at Woodford Town in the Essex Senior League after being released at Fulham, Tottenham and Norwich.
An Albanian youth international, he is an integral figure in Gareth Ainsworth's side and has contributed eight goals and a further two assists having also featured against City in the EFL Cup earlier in the season. With the ability to float between the lines, Mehmeti is capable of moments of brilliance including a fabulous finish against Barnsley earlier in the campaign when he angled a yard of space for himself in the area before finding the top corner.
He has a contract with the club until 2024 meaning Wycombe can play hardball in negotiations and if City would want to take a gamble, they may have to sell a player before bringing him in. But there's no doubt he has plenty of potential to play at a higher level than League One.
Jonson Clarke-Harris
Okay, he might not fall into the maverick category as such but there's a possibility City may look towards a striker depending on Antoine Semenyo. The Robins forward is not short of transfer interest and if the offer is right, the club will have to seriously consider the best approach given the financial situation.
Whilst City are not short of strikers with Nahki Wells and Tommy Conway impressing as a partnership, Pearson will surely need to look at signing a forward in the near future. Wells and Chris Martin are out of contract in the summer and as mentioned above, Semenyo could soon make a step up to the Premier League or abroad.
Peterborough's Clarke-Harris, 28, knows where the back of the net is having scored 12 this season. He also proved he can do it in the Championship with 12 last campaign having failed to help secure Posh's survival.
He has a contract until 2024 meaning a transfer fee will be required and manager Grant McCann will not want to lose his frontman during the winter period with his side currently in the play-off race sitting in sixth spot.
Todd Cantwell
At one point Norwich's attacking midfielder looked destined for big things when he was giving Premier League defenders the runaround during the 2019/20 campaign. Injury then curtailed his development before enduring a disappointing loan spell with Bournemouth last season.
At the age of 24, Cantwell is still with Norwich with his contract expiring at the end of the season. He has yet to score in the league this season in 18 appearances and it feels as though a fresh start could be the catalyst to rediscover that old form.
Given the Canaries are pushing for promotion, they may not want to lose Cantwell in January but the player fits the bill of the maverick-type player Pearson is looking out for.
Alfie Devine
We're talking loan deals now and Devine is one player who could leave the Premier League temporarily and head to the Championship in the New Year. The 18-year-old attacking midfielder became Tottenham's youngest-ever player in January 2021 when he was introduced at 16 years and 163 days in an FA Cup tie against Marine.
Devine hasn't featured under Antonio Conte this season and if they do sanction a loan move, he will not be short of suitors. However, City may have an advantage if Alex Scott can use his powers of persuasion.
The pair won the England Euros Under-19 Championship together this summer with Devine scoring a brilliant goal against Austria when he rifled an effort into the roof of the net. He's one of those players that is perhaps deemed too good for the youth side but not at the level to feature for Tottenham - he bagged nine in 17 for the Under-23s last season.
There might be just one problem - his loan deal isn't likely to be cheap especially if chairman Daniel Levy has a say in negotiations.
Charlie Webster
There's an abundance of talent in the Chelsea academy including creative midfielder Charlie Webster. Thomas Tuchel remains an admirer and named him on the bench for their EFL quarter-final match against Brentford last season.
Aged just 18, he has scored three times in 10 appearances in the Premier League 2 and also hit the target in the UEFA Youth League defeat against AC Milan. He joined the Chelsea academy at age 10 and now would be the ideal opportunity to head out on loan and test himself in competitive matches.
There could be one slight hurdle, however. He reportedly rejected a new contract offer last month meaning his current deal expires in 2023 and Chelsea would unlikely send him out on loan with the threat of him leaving for nothing in seven months' time.
Jay Turner-Cooke
An 18-year-old attacking midfielder, Turner-Cooke is a player in the Newcastle academy who has the world at his feet. He is considered one of the leading players in the Toon academy and was called up to Eddie Howe's squad for the away trip to Manchester City last season.
He was also part of the travelling party to their pre-season fixture against Atalanta and Athletic Bilbao. Howe has described him as a "real talent" and has starred with the Under-21s this campaign. Given Newcastle's riches and squad depth, Turner-Cooke is unlikely to get much first-team football under his belt and therefore a loan could be the best option for all parties.
He'd be a gamble at Championship level, particularly physically, but technically he's able to turn a game on its head.
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