Nigel Pearson has hinted that Bristol City may sell one of their assets in January to be able to bolster his squad depth and improve the defence.
The Robins manager wanted to sign at least one new central defender in the summer but wasn't able to raise the necessary funds to improve the side. Their lack of depth, particularly at the back, has been magnified by the injuries to Kal Naismith and Tomas Kalas.
Zak Vyner, who talked about leaving Ashton Gate in the summer, has emerged as one of the most reliable central defenders having started every Championship game. Timm Klose seems to have lost the trust of the manager while Cam Pring has started the last two league matches in central defence despite the preference to play him at left wing-back.
Pearson has reiterated he will have no money to spend in the January transfer window with the need to further reduce the wage bill going forward. Although he emphasised the need to make additions to his side as individual errors continue to mar City's progress.
"What's been the underlining is too many individual errors have cost us and that's something we have to continue to work at," Pearson said ahead of Saturday's fixture against Watford. "There's no quick fix on that.
"Whether we'll be able to do some trading remains to be seen but that will only happen if players leave essentially. We're not as a club going to change our strategy in what we're trying to do and that is still to be competitive but reduce costs.
"Whether I like it or anybody else like it or not. That's where we are at the moment."
"The depth of our squad, when players have needed to perform they haven't had the same influence as key members of our squad. It's unfortunate but that's how it is and that's why it's even more frustrating when players miss opportunities.
"We will always do as a club and it's important to remember this. I always do here as a manager what we agree is the right way forward.
"I don't intend now to start putting demands out there and we know we're short in some areas. What we'd like to do compared to what we can do at the moment is very different.
"So I'll just reiterate what I've already said and that is we would need players to leave before we can do business to bring players in. That's it. That's what it is. We should be getting better results than what we've had but we've continued to make errors that have cost us games and that's unfortunate for us."
Pearson remains open to bringing in at least one player on loan but admitted it's not the most viable option to bring in a new face because of the costs that remain attached to it. City did look at temporary deals in the summer including an attempt to sign Brighton's attacking midfielder Reda Khadra who opted for Sheffield United.
"Good loans are expensive," Pearson added. "I'm not writing them off because if we get the opportunity to do that in the right area then fine but the area that still needs addressing and we've been unable to fill and do the business we would have liked this summer is still in a defensive position."
"So I'll just reiterate what I've already said and that is we would need players to leave before we can do business to bring players in. That's it. That's what it is.
"We should be getting better results than what we've had but we've continued to make errors that have cost us games and that's unfortunate for us."
The one issue in regard to trading is City don't particularly have an abundance of saleable assets. Alex Scott, Antoine Semenyo and Tommy Conway are the most notable names who would generate substantial transfer fees.
Han-Noah Massengo is free to sign a pre-contract with a foreign club in January as he approaches the end of his deal in the summer, while Tomas Kalas, Dan Bentley, Nahki Wells and Jay Dasilva are all among those whose contracts expire at the end of the season.
Semenyo, who is heading to the World Cup with Ghana, was linked with a £5million move to Rangers on Thursday although Bristol Live understands there's been no contact. But he has plenty of admirers across the Premier League including Bournemouth and Crystal Palace who were linked in the summer.
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