Nigel Pearson says there won't be any more incomings until players leave but admitted his squad remains thin on the ground less than a week before the new season.
The Bristol City manager moved quickly to bring three new additions, plugging the gaps in his squad by signing Mark Sykes, centre-back Kal Naismith and right wing-back Kane Wilson. Young French goalkeeper Stefan Bajic became the fourth arrival at the beginning of the month.
However, transfer business has since been quiet despite the desire to bring in at least two more players with another central defender and defensive midfielder on the wishlist. Five senior players have left the club this summer in Kasey Palmer, Robbie Cundy, Taylor Moore, Callum O'Dowda and Tyreeq Bakinson.
City have enjoyed a hugely positive pre-season having remained undefeated with a victory at Bournemouth on Saturday but the lack of squad depth has been on show in certain games. Zak Vyner's cameos are perhaps evidence of that while Pearson had a number of young players introduced against the Cherries including 17-year-old Raphael Araoye, Callum Wood, Ryley Towler and Dylan Kadji.
Speaking after the victory, Pearson said: "We are a bit thin and we know that. We can’t at the moment currently do any more business until we get further players out but I’m not going to comment on that.
"The players that are currently here have shown commitment to what we are trying to do. If we want to make further changes it will have to be a bit of trading.
"With a week to go before the season, I’m not too bothered by that. I was speaking to Scott Parker before the game and they’ve had a tough time making additions.
"I believe that because of their foreign ownership they haven’t been able to do the type of business they want to do, it’s not just us."
The manager also stated his intention to allow a number of young talent to leave this summer on loan but admitted he has his hands tied. One player who won't be leaving temporarily is striker Tommy Conway who was recently rewarded for his potential with a new three-year contract.
Conway has looked sharp in pre-season, scoring twice in the 2-2 draw with Exeter and in the opening 2-0 victory over Cheltenham and Pearson is eager to see him challenging for a first-team spot.
"We haven’t got any other players," he added. "The players that you have seen today are in the squad.
"You have to understand that there will be players we might put out on loan this year but we can’t afford to let any of these players go at the moment. We haven’t got the depth in the first-team squad but Tommy is definitely in the first-team squad anyway, he won’t be going anywhere."
City will be hopeful of sending the likes of Towler and Duncan Idehen out on loan if they can secure enough cover at the back while striker Sam Bell may also be another name to leave temporarily. Goalkeeper Max O'Leary has attracted interest from League One clubs including Exeter but the club are reluctant to let him leave on loan while Bajic continues his recovery from a wrist injury.
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