Bristol City look to steer clear of a relegation dogfight in the Championship after a solid transfer window that coincided with an unbeaten run of form. The Robins went the first month without defeat, with three victories and three draws, and are now 17th in the league, as well as in to the fifth round of the FA Cup where they will host Manchester City in a glamour tie at Ashton Gate.
January is a notoriously difficult month to do business in, and it was only until the end of the window that business really picked up. Joe Low and Stefan Bajic were loaned out at the start and middle of the month whilst Ryley Towler was sold to Portsmouth, but even then it did not mean any major arrivals. It wasn't until a rejected bid from Bournemouth for Antoine Semenyo came in and Dan Bentley's sale to Wolves, that things started to happen. Bentley's move to Wolves meant Nikita Haikin, a goalkeeper that played in this seasons Europa League joined, meanwhile the Cherries would eventually get their man in Semenyo.
Semenyo was a man in-demand even before the window and so if it was one of him or Alex Scott to go this month it would be him, with his contract up in the summer of 2024. His sale gave City some money to spend, and they did that on deadline day with the arrivals of Anis Mehmeti and Harry Cornick from Wycombe Wanderers and Luton Town.
Both players already have Championship experience and Mehmeti's arrival is one that has serious excitement attached to it given his form in League One this season. Cornick was believed to be a summer transfer target, but the money available meant that they could get him sooner.
Cornick and Mehmeti could both make their debuts this weekend for Bristol City, but when everyone is fit, how could an 18-man match-day squad look like?
9. RW: Andi Weimann
Weimann’s nearing a return from a hamstring injury, and his return will be welcomed. He’s not the goals from last year, but he’s still a good player. A role as a right-sided attacker could bring him in to the game more, whilst he can also track back and cover like he always does too. | Getty Images Photo: Michael Steele/Getty Images
10. ST: Sam Bell
He’s the man in-form at the minute and so Bell could start as the central striker and lead the line. Bell can also play as a left-sided attacker so there’s scope for versatility. | Getty Images Photo: Dan Isitene/Getty Images
11. LW: Anis Mehmeti
The arrival of Mehmeti is exciting and from a selfish standpoint, I’d like to see him start from the off. He’s been in form this season and similar to Semenyo, can change the game on his own. | Rogan/Fever Pitch Photo: Rogan/Fever Pitch
12. Nikita Haikin
Haikin is a solid option to have given his Europa League experience if anything happens to O’Leary. | AFP via Getty Images Photo: Fabrice Coffrini/Getty Images