Liam Manning on Finn Azaz transfer pursuit, Adam Murphy plan and what next for Bristol City

06/01/2024

Liam Manning has revealed Bristol City are working on alternatives in the transfer market to Finn Azaz after missing out to Championship rivals Middlesbrough in trying to sign the goalscoring playmaker. Azaz is poised to be confirmed as a Boro player having undergone his medical in the north east after a fee in the region of GBP2.5million [1] was agreed with Aston Villa, with the 23-year-old having spent the last 18 months on loan at Plymouth Argyle. City were willing to match that figure, and were confident personal terms wouldn’t be an issue, but ultimately the former Republic of Ireland Under-21 international chose the Riverside and the Robins will now pivot to other options as Manning looks to sign a “specialist” playmaker who can both score and make goals for others.

Since Alex Scott’s GBP25m sale to Bournemouth [2] in August, City have been without a genuine No10-style creator, as although Jason Knight has enjoyed a positive campaign in that role, it’s not his most natural position with the 22-year-old more of a box-to-box midfielder.

There is inevitable disappointment on being unable to secure Azaz, as he’s scored seven goals and added five assists in 26 games for Argyle, but the Robins recruitment team have other targets in that specific position which the club hope they can secure before the end of the month. “I do think we lack a little bit of what I’d call an expert to play between the lines, in pockets,” Manning said. “Finn was one we liked, that we were tracking. “He did well at Plymouth and obviously made his decision to go to Middlesbrough and I think that’s one where we have numerous options and we’re working hard on alternatives for that position.

Going into the window we knew we had several targets to try and get.” “There’s a few,” Manning added, when asked how many players of similar profile are about and even available in the January window. “I wouldn’t say there are loads of them – those who can create and score are the hardest ones to try and find, especially in a January window, they tend to be the most expensive, understandably. “But there’s definitely profiles out there that we like that we’re working hard to try and progress and move forward with.

It’s only January 5, 6, so it takes a little bit of time.” Republic of Ireland U21 international Adam Murphy was a new arrival at the High Performance Centre [3] this week with the 18-year-old joining on a free transfer after his deal at St Patrick’s Athletic expired at the end of the Irish domestic season. City have been tracking Murphy some time, with their interest predating Manning’s time at the club given they came desperately close to signing him in August only for the move to collapse.

With Murphy now in place on a three-and-a-half year contract, with the option of a further 12 months, it represents something of a coup given the level of interest in the teenager, considered one of the brightest young talents in Ireland. As for his immediate future in BS3, Manning admits he requires a period of time [4] to adapt to his new surroundings and the additional physical expectations of him, given he’s now a Championship footballer. It would seem, ultimately, he’s a player for the future – which is no surprise considering his age – and may be initially trialled in the Under-21 set-up, but there is a possibility he could become part of the first-team picture before the end of the season in May.

“Adam’s one that we’ve been watching for a little while,” Manning added. “He broke in and got some exposure to senior football at quite a young age in Ireland so he’s one that’s had a taste of it, but I think he’s one we’re going to have to be a little bit patient with. “He’s going to need time to adapt, to adjust, especially when you look at the change in the physical demands. He’s one that we’re not expecting to have an immediate impact but one that we think has got really good potential.

“The first bit is to see where he’s at physically. There’s such a demand when you look at the work the guys do downstairs, is incredible, so it’s one that’s going to be more for the future then straight away. “His qualities are there to see.

I’ve obviously watched a decent chunk of him, the recruitment guys have done a huge amount of work, so we really like the qualities he’s got and he’s definitely going to complement the way we play.”

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References

^ after a fee in the region of GBP2.5million (www.bristolpost.co.uk)
^ GBP25m sale to Bournemouth (www.bristolpost.co.uk)
^ was a new arrival at the High Performance Centre (www.bristolpost.co.uk)
^ he requires a period of time (www.bristolpost.co.uk)
^ For our daily Robins newsletter, bringing you the latest from Ashton Gate (www.bristolpost.co.uk)