Robins boss Manning wants to keep Atkinson

Bristol City boss Liam Manning has implied he wants to keep Rob Atkinson at the club following the defender's loan spell at fellow Championship side Portsmouth.

Speaking after his side's play-off semi-final defeat by Sheffield United, Manning looked back on the progress the Robins have made since his appointment in November 2023 and says he is already looking to the task ahead next season.

"At the minute, he's our player - that doesn't change for me," Manning said of Atkinson to BBC Radio Bristol's Sound of the City show.

"I'm going to have a call with Rob soon to get everything out of the way and then I'll have a meeting with him as well to have a discussion with how it went."

Atkinson was sent out on loan to Championship strugglers Pompey having failed to play a single minute of league football in the first half of the campaign ahead of favoured central defenders George Tanner, Rob Dickie and Zak Vyner.

The 26-year-old duly proved his worth at Fratton Park, however, making 14 league appearances and scoring twice against relegation rivals Derby County, helping the club retain their Championship status with a couple of games to spare.

"It was good to see him have minutes and when you look at it from that perspective, it was a good loan for him but I think I could have done with him," Manning added.

"It's one of those. I think he'll be coming back here."

At the other end of the pitch, Manning stated he already has a "clear profile" of a new striker he wants to add to the squad this summer.

Albanian winger Anis Mehmeti was the Robins' top scorer in the league with 12 goals, at a strike rate of exactly one goal every four games, but Manning is yet to have a discussion with the club's hierarchy over a budget for a new frontman.

"When you look at it, goals become the biggest bit," Manning said.

"There's so much good work between the two boxes in the last two games and across so much of the season but what separates teams is what happens in both boxes."

On the future of Fally Mayulu, last summer's big-money g from Rapid Vienna, Manning was more coy - stating the forward's return to the club was "possible".

Mayulu, 22, started promisingly at Ashton Gate, scoring in both of his opening two Championship matches for the club, but then embarked on a barren run of 15 games without a goal before returning to the Austrian Bundesliga with Sturm Graz.

"It's obviously not been a great loan," Manning added. "He picked up some injuries and didn't play like I know he would have wanted to but, until I hear differently, he will be returning here to pre-season."

Excluding loanees, five City first-team players are out of contract at the end of next month, with the club announcing on Saturday that goalkeeper Stefan Bajic, midfielder Ayman Benarous and defender Kal Naismith will all be leaving.

Contract talks are ongoing with striker Nahki Wells and goalkeeper Lewis Thomas.

Goalkeeper Max O'Leary was one of three players to play every minute of league football for the Robins during the 2024-25 campaign, keeping 10 Championship clean sheets.

But Manning has done little to dispel rumours he is on the lookout for another goalkeeper in the summer window to provide competition for O'Leary.

"Yes, I think so, I think it will help," Manning responded when asked about a new shot stopper. "Max, you have to , is early on in his career."

Following loans at clubs including Bath City, Solihull Moors and Shrewsbury Town, it took until his 10th season as a professional for O'Leary, 28, to establish himself as the club's number one after displacing Daniel Bentley, who then left for Wolves.

"Despite his age, he's actually quite low in of the number of games [he's played]," Manning said of O'Leary.

"For me, competition only benefits all of the players. I think someone pushing you will ultimately bring the best of you."