Nigel Pearson believes the Bristol City dressing room could benefit from a maverick and matchwinner "to keep him on his toes" after missing out on a summer deal for Reda Khadra.
The City manager took Tuesday's 1-0 home defeat to Sheffield United as an example of when a player of that character and personality could have been the difference in unlocking a tight defence despite creating 16 chances on goal.
In his post-match comments, Pearson admitted he missed out on a summer loan deal for the United attacker who was hooked off after just 34 minutes with Paul Heckingbottom changing shape because of the influence Alex Scott was having in midfield. Khadra, 21, opted to join Sheffield United over City during a temporary switch from Brighton & Hove Albion.
During an interview with Sky Sports, Pearson referenced the need to have a maverick-type player in his squad, referencing Jamie Vardy, Riyad Mahrez and Anthony Knockaert at Leicester City, adding "otherwise it's boring." He admitted the deal to pursue Khadra tapped into that necessity and hinted it's an attribute he would like to add to his side going forward.
Speaking ahead of Saturday's trip to Middlesbrough, Pearson said: "There's an element to that and maybe the lad is thinking he should have come here. Because they hooked him off after 30 minutes but that shows players need to make decisions about their careers rather than their agents.
"I don't know exactly what happened but you ask me about loan players and I've been asked about loan players on many occasions and he was a player that we were very keen to take.
"I like him as a player. He's a matchwinner. He's probably high maintenance but that's where I think our dressing room could deal with someone like that, but in the past, they couldn't.
"I like players who keep me on my toes. So I think there needs to be some uncertainties. You don't want every player to be the same.
"That doesn't mean that players who lack discipline and lack an understanding of what the team needs. You need strong-minded people, determined people, reliable people and people who can bring something different.
"For instance, the game that we played the other night turned out to be a real frustration because we battered them and lost. We lost because we defended one phase of play not very well and the officials couldn't get it right.
"Then at the other end, we couldn't find a way to unlock the door and take chances when they came along.
"Sometimes it's a personality that is sometimes different, sometimes it's a player that has something different as well. More often than not they are creative players but you do get defenders like that too occasionally and they are priceless."
Pearson admitted that Khadra wasn't the only loan deal they attempted to pursue across the summer but for numerous factors, including the cost of bringing Premier League players temporarily to the Championship.
"It's an example where all three parties are in line with each other," he added. "That is the club that owns the player, the club that the player goes to and the player himself.
"Because I don't take one player I don't think 'ah we're going to take somebody else' because that's the player that we want.
"The other loan opportunities that we tried to get weren't doable because they were too expensive or the clubs that own the players decide that we're not the right club for them. So there's loads of things to consider."
On Tuesday, Pearson reiterated the fact that he has no money to spend in January unless City sell a player but admitted that if funds arise, his main area of focus to strengthen will be on the defence.
Injuries to Tomas Kalas and Kal Naismith have magnified the limited number of options at the back with Rob Atkinson and Timm Klose also suffering from illness. Pearson has opted for a makeshift back three of George Tanner, Zak Vyner and Cam Pring for the last two matches.
If a maverick-type creative player is on the January wishlist, it's likely to be second on the list of priorities after Pearson said: "There won’t be money to spend unless we sell. In the meantime, we just have to keep working hard to try to rectify.
"We’ll be a side that always concedes soft goals because we don’t have the quality back there. When I get the opportunity to spend money, I’ll be spending it where we need it and that is at the back.”
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