JULIAN Rhodes admits City are facing a “chaotic” transfer window – just as he expected.

The Bantams are actively trying to bolster David Hopkin’s squad for their battle against the League One drop.

But they are also looking to move on several players who are out of the picture under the Scot.

City had hoped for an answer from Bournemouth about taking striker Sam Surridge on loan.

But it appears the Premier League club want to keep him for another week before making any decision on whether to send him back out after a successful stint at Oldham.

City are also waiting on confirmation that they can keep Huddersfield duo Jack Payne and Lewis O’Brien. The Terriers parted company with boss David Wagner yesterday evening.

Rhodes said: “It’s a chaotic month but we knew it would be.

“We’ve got lots of players who aren’t featuring who maybe want to try and get first-team football elsewhere.

“We’ve got the loans that we won’t find out until tonight if they are here for the rest of the season.

“We need to strengthen in certain areas but all against the backdrop of the finances that Stefan (Rupp) is having to underpin.

“We have a very good player budget with very little transfer or cup income to go against it. That’s why it has fallen back on Stefan.

“We’re trying to get things back to how they used to be financially.

“But we know we’ve got to strengthen. We’ve got to make sure David does have enough options.”

Surridge, who scored 12 goals in 20 games for Oldham, travelled with the Bournemouth squad to Everton on Sunday but did not feature.

Speaking to T&A sister paper the Daily Echo, Cherries boss Eddie Howe said: “There are a lot of admirers out there which is only good for him and us.

“He has built his profile to a level where people are aware of him and talking about him, which is the beauty of the loan spell.”

City have also been linked with a loan move for Ipswich striker Jordan Roberts and Hopkin is looking to add to his squad before Saturday’s Valley Parade clash with Southend.

He said: “We’re working hard to get maybe one or two done. You can’t do anything until other clubs agree.

“You’ve got to wait and see what other teams are doing. Probably the last week of the transfer window you see a lot of movement with clubs trying to move players on or some may get paid up to leave.

“The January window always starts quite slowly and I don’t think there’s a lot of movement with many teams. But we do need more bodies.

“It’s been the same since I’ve been here. Every time we seem to be getting somewhere, we pick up a couple of niggling injuries that puts you back.

“It’s important we get players in. But as I keep saying, it’s got to be the right ones and not just signings for the sake of it.

“We’ve got to get it right. If we are going to sign people on permanent deals, most of them are going to want 18 months.

“We’ve got to make sure the deals are going to suit us for next season too.”

Out-of-favour City winger Jordan Gibson was thought be at Stevenage yesterday discussing a possible move to the League Two club.