Bristol City's play-off rivals set to seal landmark deal for Liverpool starlet as Hull City miss out

One of Bristol City’s potential rivals for a Championship play-off spot are set to strengthen their side on transfer deadline day, with Liverpool youngster Jayden Danns set to sign for Sunderland on loan according to Sky Sports.

19-year-old Danns, who was also a target for Hull City, was one of a number of youngster who made their mark at Anfield in the second half of the 2023/24 season, playing in the EFL Cup final and scoring twice against Southampton in the FA Cup fifth round.

Injury has restricted his first-team opportunities this season, although he scored against Accrington Stanley in the FA Cup third round on his return to action and also appeared in Liverpool’s Champions League game against PSV Eindhoven.

Sunderland are currently fourth in the Championship table, and are among the clubs who could be play-off opponents for the Robins should they finish inside the top six. Following Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Oxford United, City are three points and three places outside the play-offs.

Stoke target Sykes signs extension

While other teams around Bristol City strengthen their squads, Robins fans also received a boost on deadline day with the announcement that the contract of winger Mark Sykes has been extended to the end of the 2025/26 season.

The Republic of Ireland international’s contract had been set to expire at the end of the season, but the Robins have exercised a one-year option to ensure that Sykes stays at Ashton Gate for another year.

Sykes had been the subject of interest from Stoke City, who made a bid for an undisclosed amount for the 27-year-old last week, but Bristol City rejected the offer and have now made it clear that he remains an integral part of the club’s first-team plans.

Sykes has made 17 appearances for the Robins this season despite missing two months thanks to a serious hamstring injury, and he scored the equaliser this weekend as Liam Manning’s side escaped from the Kassam Stadium with a point despite having men sent off in either half.

Bristol City expecting quiet deadline day

Little further activity is expected at Ashton Gate on deadline day after the Robins released a statement on Sunday which suggested that no new arrivals were anticipated due to budgetary constraints.

“We began the season with a larger squad than we would ideally operate with,” the statement read. “Consequently, there have been fewer opportunities for home grown players than there might have been otherwise.

“After making a real push to sign Scott Twine and Luke McNally late in the summer – decisions we are pleased we made – alongside a couple of expected departures not occurring, we entered January considerably behind on our season budget… We are not adding to the size of the squad.”

One piece of business which is expected to be done in the coming days concerns Japanese forward Yu Hirakawa. City are hoping to make the player’s move from Machida Zelvia permanent in the coming days after he registered two goals in his first 21 games since arriving on a season-long loan in July.