CITY will aim to have Gary Liddle's replacement in place "this time next week" after Phil Parkinson admitted his sale was good business.

They are thought to be looking for a "younger, attack-minded midfielder" from the Premier League – once the emergency loan window reopens.

Liddle yesterday linked up again with his former boss Danny Wilson after signing for Chesterfield for an undisclosed fee, believed to be around £30,000 plus add-ons.

City did not bring in any deadline-day recruits but converted striker Jamie Proctor's loan from Fleetwood into a permanent deal until the end of the season.

With Luke James also gone, that frees up further space to stay within the five-man limit for a match-day squad.

Bantams boss Parkinson said: "It was very difficult to stand in the way of the money and they had some from the Sam Morsy deal (to Wigan).

"When you get an offer on a player who's only got five months left on his contract, financially for the club going forward we couldn't really turn it down.

"If we had the chance, we'd probably have looked to keep him. Lidds is a good professional and terrific player but business is business."

A new loan signing will not arrive in time for Saturday's trip to leaders Burton, when City are still without the suspended Lee Evans.

But Parkinson said: "The loan window opens in a week and we'll be looking to do some business then. This time next week we hope to have added a player.

"We'll just have to get by on Saturday but Evans is back after that and Billy Knott looks rejuvenated again, which is good to see."

Proctor made an instant impression by scoring on his debut at Port Vale ten days ago and he was keen to make the move full-time.

"I don't think you can ever have enough strikers in the building," said Parkinson.

"Jamie's very keen and he knows he is coming here to compete for a place. That pushes other people on.

"When people feel their place is always there, they can rest on their laurels. We want competition at the top end of the pitch."

Liddle joined the Bantams from Notts County in June 2014 in the wake of Gary Jones' departure. He was a regular in his first season with 50 games and only three players appeared more.

But fans were shocked to see him left out against Swindon on the opening day of the current campaign and he had been in and out of the side since.

"There has been constant speculation with Gaz over the last few weeks about him going here, there and everywhere," said Parkinson.

"I think it had unsettled him a little bit – but he wanted to stay in League One and this is an opportunity to do that.

"He is 29 and has been given a two-and-a-half year contract, so he has that added security.

"It was just one of those things that felt right in terms of them making us an offer. We just weighed everything up and decided it was a good deal for us."

Liddle, who finished with four goals in 76 games, had been chased keenly by Carlisle. Former club Hartlepool, where he previously played under Wilson, also declared an interest but he refused to drop down a level.

Meanwhile, Hartlepool beat Oxford to take James after City cancelled his season-long loan from Peterborough early.