Liam Manning has confirmed there is interest in Bristol City striker Fally Mayulu following the Robins’ draw with Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough.
The Reds twice came from behind to pick up an important point in a 2-2 draw with the Owls at Hillsborough on Wednesday evening, with goals from Nahki Wells and Ross McCrorie ensuring City didn’t have to travel home empty-handed.
Mayulu was once again missing from the Reds’ matchday squad, having also been left out against Coventry City at the weekend when Manning insisted the Frenchman didn’t have an injury, labelling his absence a selection decision.
The 22-year-old forward only made the move to the West Country during the summer transfer window in what was understood to be a transfer worth up to £2.5million from Rapid Vienna. He flew out of the blocks in City colours with goals off of the bench against both Hull City and Millwall but has failed to find the net since, with his game time becoming increasingly limited with the Robins.
Ahead of kick-off reports suggested that Stoke City had bid £2.5million for the forward. Although Bristol Live understands the Potters’ interest is genuine, and they are not alone in eyeing a move for the forward, at the time of writing it is understood that no offer of that valuation has been made.
Although Manning admits that he is not expecting much activity in the transfer market before Saturday’s game with Blackburn Rovers, he did admit that Mayulu has some potential suitors this month.
“No, not at the minute to be honest,” the 39-year-old said when asked if any movement was expected before the weekend. “I know there are bits out there about Fally at the minute.
“There is interest in him, it’s a discussion in-house about what’s best for the club and him. It also shows the competition that we’ve got in the group that we’re travelling here with Marcus [McGuane], there’s no [Cam] Pringy, no Fally, no [Harry] Corns. When you look at it, we’ve got some good options behind us.
“It all depends on the options. It’s probably not all on what I’d want and what’s in front of us, what’s best for the club, what’s best for Fally, what’s best for the team here. They’re obviously the conversations that will happen behind the scenes. He’s got interest and we’ll have to see what happens.”
If Mayulu were to leave Ashton Gate this month, Wells, Sinclair Armstrong and Sam Bell would be the only senior strikers available to Manning for the remainder of the campaign.
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Although Wells has impressed when fit this term, at 34, the Reds head coach has admitted in the past that the Bermudian’s minutes will need to be managed and neither Bell nor Armstrong have yet shown that they are capable of scoring the goals to fire the Reds into the play-off places.
Most supporters have been keen to see a new striker arrive during the January window, even before speculation emerged around Mayulu’s future. While Manning has hinted he is keen to make additions to his squad in recentb weeks, he was keen to emphasise the options already at his disposal.
“[Sam] Belly comes on nine tonight and Belly’s done really well when he’s played nine recently,” Manning replied when asked if he would like to sign a new forward in the event of the Frenchman’s exit.
“I think if it’s the right thing to help us push, we’ll have a look if it’s viable and if it’s possible. At the same time, we have got depth, we have got options as well.
“It’s one of those, you never know in the window what could happen.”