City's stance on further signings as Skubala shares update after Ballard arrival
· Daniel Carter · 2026-08-08 · nguồn gốc
Bristol City stance on further signings as Michael Skubala shares latest after Dom Ballard's move
Bristol City have signed eight players so far this summer and have until September 1 to further bolster their squad
Michael Skubala feels that Bristol City still have "probably a little bit more to do" in the transfer window, but the Robins boss doesn't believe his squad is "far off" where it needs to be after the arrival of Dom Ballard.
With the addition of Ballard, 21, ahead of Thursday night's Carabao Cup defeat to Walsall, City have now made eight signings in the first month and a half of the summer transfer window. So far, only three senior players - Sinclair Armstrong, Ross McCrorie and Joe Lumley - have departed.
Six of those new faces took to the field against the Saddlers. Sam Tickle, Lisav Eissat, Jed Wallace, Sam Greenwood and Lorent Tolaj were named in the Reds' starting line-up, while Ballard featured from the bench. Brad Collins and Gibson Yah were unused substitutes.
With the work completed over the last seven weeks or so, Skubala and sporting director James Ellis have been able to build a squad containing multiple strong options in almost every position. The City boss is of the opinion, however, that further additions would be beneficial.
Asked if he still felt that there was more work to be done between now and the end of the window after the defeat to Walsall, Skubala told Bristol Live, "We'll see, maybe. We probably just need a little bit of support in some units.
"There's probably a little bit more to do. But again, the group has been great, and I think we're not far off of what we need [heading into the Championship season].
"It's our job now to work really hard."
One area in which City supporters remain eager to see the Reds strengthen between now and the transfer deadline - which will fall at 11pm on Tuesday, September 1 - is on the right side of defence.
Having sanctioned McCrorie's move to Rangers earlier this summer and following Mark Sykes' release and subsequent move to Millwall, the Robins have been left short of options at right-back. There are few obvious alternatives to George Tanner, who started against Walsall, with academy prospect Marley Thelwell the only natural right-sided full-back waiting in the wings.
Noah Eile had played in such a role during pre-season, namely against Swindon Town and Stockport County, but all of his minutes since the Reds' friendly win at The County Ground a fortnight or so ago have come as a central defender, where he plied his trade last term.
In the last week or so, Skubala's side have been linked with a move for Crystal Palace prospect Rio Cardines. The 20-year-old, who played three times for the Eagles last term - once in each of the Premier League, Carabao Cup and UEFA Conference League - would offer cover at both right-back and left-back.
Another topic of conversation present over the course of pre-season was the presence of Elijah Adebayo, who featured in four of the Reds' seven friendly fixtures. The ex-Luton Town man, whose contract at Kenilworth Road expired in the summer, played under the name 'Trialist.'
It was noted by supporters that Adebayo was not part of the group that took part in City's open training session at Ashton Gate on Monday lunchtime. That fact, partnered with the arrival of Ballard from Leyton Orient a day or so later, has led many to assume that the 28-year-old's time in south Bristol has come to an end.
Quizzed on whether or not the Robins' latest signing had impacted the free-agent's situation, Skubala simply replied, "That's not for me to comment on that at the moment."
With City's Championship campaign getting underway with the visit of Millwall next Saturday, any new signings made by the Robins will need to have been registered by Friday, August 14 to play a part against Alex Neil's Lions at Ashton Gate.
Millwall kick off their season today when they travel to Loftus Road to face fellow Championship side Queens Park Rangers in the first round of the Carabao Cup.