It is no secret Bristol City will have to rummage through the bargain bucket instead of shopping in Chelsea during the transfer window.
Record losses of £38.4m laid bare the grim reality of the financial situation at Ashton Gate with the days of handing out cheques similar to the 2019/20 season appearing a whole world away.
Club CEO Richard Gould put the club's state of affairs into perspective last week when he conceded a potential points deduction could be on the horizon should the EFL fail to reform their Financial Fair Play rules.
City aren't the only club feeling the pinch, of course, with the entirety of the Championship - barring those receiving parachute payments - being forced to cut costs.
The January transfer window is notoriously difficult to improve a squad, but even more now with the financial shackles locked firmly in place. Only five players have signed for a Championship club with a transfer fee this winter for a total transfer value of £13.3m, according to figures from Transfermarkt.
Although £7.77m of that chunk saw West Brom gamble on 21-year-old striker Daryl Dike and Middlesbrough bolstering their play-off push with the £3.27m arrival of midfielder Riley McGree from MLS side Charlotte.
With their hands tied, City will have to be more frugal than ever but it still remains imperative that Nigel Pearson dips his toes into the market to improve his limited squad, maybe not in the immediate sense but with an eye on next season.
Pearson has always said he prefers doing business before the season to give his new signings the opportunity and time to prepare with his tactics and bond with their new team-mates.
Therefore it would be no surprise if the manager has already drawn up a shortlist of potential targets ahead of what is expected to be a busy summer.
Siriki Dembele
A player who can get the fans on their feet and create something out of nothing.
Callum O'Dowda's future at the club remains uncertain with his contract set to expire although the club does have the option of extending it for one more year.
But even so, it should be one of the positions that should remain a priority as O'Dowda's performances, on the whole, have been inconsistent. One goal and no assists this season don't make for pretty reading.
Dembele, 25, is currently playing in his debut Championship campaign after impressing for three seasons in League One. In Peterborough's promotion season, he scored 11 goals from a wide position.
This season he has five in 21 starts which in hindsight isn't too shabby in a side that appear to be heading for relegation. He has also been used in a central position and out on the flank.
His wages would be relatively affordable and Dembele will also eye a move to City as a step up in his career.
Naby Sarr
The defence has remained an ongoing issue this season for more reasons than one.
Nathan Baker's ongoing injury has been a real sucker punch with no time frame on his return to action while question marks remain on Zak Vyner's consistency at this level.
With 45 goals conceded so far this season, the joint second-worst record in the Championship, it's imperative the issue is addressed sooner rather than later.
Huddersfield's 6'5" Sarr could be that man to plug the gap in a leaky defence and also boasts the physical presence that the City team appear to be craving.
The 28-year-old is playing his fourth Championship season including 41 appearances for the Terriers last in 2020/21. He has been in and out of the side this campaign and looks increasingly likely to leave on a free at the end of the season.
Festy Ebosele
A player with a very bright future judging by his progress so far and will almost certainly be a casualty of Derby's ongoing predicaments on and off the pitch.
The Rams' loss should be Bristol City's gain, especially with the potential that his value as a player could rocket in the next couple of years.
Ebosele, 19, was tremendous at Ashton Gate last month, playing in a right-wing role, and was arguably one of the brightest players on the pitch.
He can also drop into a deeper role on the field if the current right wing-back situation remains a predicament.
Competition for his signature is likely to be rife and City should be throwing their names firmly in the hat.
Tom Lawrence
From one Derby player to another, Lawrence's pedigree in the Championship is plain to see.
He's another player almost certain to head for the exit door and will not be short of suitors following his impressive performances under Wayne Rooney this season.
Again, he would solve the issue on the left but also has the ability to play as a No10 or as a main striker.
With interest in his signature expected to be high, it will undoubtedly increase his wage demands which may blow City out the water unless they offload a couple of players of their own.
Birmingham City's Jeremie Bela could be a more affordable option if the club decide against activating a clause in his contract to extend his stay in the Midlands.
Ryan Nyambe
Currently involved in a contract stand-off with Blackburn, right-back Nyambe could be heading for the exit door at Ewood Park.
The 24-year-old has been a mainstay in the Rovers side under Tony Mowbray since his appointment almost five years ago and continues to be instrumental this season with the club battling for automatic promotion.
The right-back slot remains a conundrum in BS3 - Danny Simpson is out of contract in the summer, and the Jay Dasilva experiment at wing back is, let's be honest, a short-term fix.
George Tanner does offer hope moving forward but has endured a stop-start campaign due to injuries leading to Alex Scott deputising at right wing-back.
It's been a problem position for too many years at City, with plenty of players flourishing on the left but not the same legacy on the other flank. Nyambe and Tanner could be two excellent options to take the Robins forward.
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