Next transfer window must be 'better' - Struber

Bristol City brought in five players this summer during Gerhard Struber's first transfer window at the club

Bristol City head coach Gerhard Struber said the club needs to "do it better" in the next transfer window after they failed to bring in another striker before deadline day.

The Robins were looking to bolster their forward line with another striker alongside Emil Riis Jakobsen, who signed earlier in the window.

Defender Neto Borges moved to Ashton Gate from Middlesbrough on loan on deadline day, but City were unable to get another signing over the line.

"My wish is clear for the next transfer window. We have to do it better and my expectation is we have to do it better, but right now I am happy with my team," Struber told BBC Radio Bristol.

The Austrian was appointed in June and while the club's hierarchy has said there would be no change to the club's transfer strategy, Struber suggested the focus should be on signing players early and not waiting until the end of the window.

"This is something that is super important, that we are quick in our decisions - which player we want and which player comes in - and not [that] we have to deal in the end in the last few days," he said.

"Most of the time this is very expensive, and most of the time this could be dangerous that you don't finalise what you want."

City made a total of five signings this summer in Riis, goalkeepers Joe Lumley and Radek Vitek, midfielder Adam Randall and Borges.

They also rejected an offer from Wrexham for defender Zak Vyner to keep him at the club.

Armstrong 'staying' and 'big part' of team

Sinclair Armstrong has scored three goals since signing for Bristol City more than a year ago

Riis has scored twice in four Championship matches since arriving from Preston North End.

However, in the rest of their forward pack, Sinclair Armstrong has gone 26 games without a goal, Fally Mayulu has not scored since August last year, and Harry Cornick has only played 51 minutes in league football since the start of the last campaign.

Struber confirmed there has been interest in recent weeks from abroad in signing Armstrong and "other strikers" but that he was not leaving.

"This is not a big surprise but at the same time it is crystal clear that he [Armstrong] stays here right now," he said.

"The window here is closed, this would mean we could not bring in a replacement."

Armstrong has scored three goals in 43 matches since signing from QPR in July 2024, the last in a 4-0 win against Plymouth Argyle in November.

And how the 22-year-old reacts in front of goal is the biggest thing the coaches are working with him on, Struber said, to improve his goal return.

"He's a young striker, maybe we forget this sometimes. He has to learn, he has to grow, he has potential to grow.

"We have to work with him very close, and with him we have to bring out and maximise his potential. He will stay and is a big part in our roster."