January transfer window:

[Lavanche]

Just red about Townsend's fight with fitness coach and that he won't "play ever" for Tottenham anymore and realised that it is under 2 months and long waited Winter transfer window will open and all teams have chance to strenghten their roster. So thought it would time to start again a thread about where we could use a new player even if the consensus on the board would be clear even without the thread.

Winter window is always harder than summer window to get players that managers really wanted and most of the time they have to find rejects and players unhappy with current conditions or just loan players that are looking for playtime.

So who would you try to bring? Or have you already heard any rumours about our targets. If I have calculated right we have 2 positions in our team sheet without sells.

For me those two obvious places to strenghten is CB and RB, but Bennett and Wisdom have showed some progress there so mayby one player would be enough for our defence. Another thing is that Redmond is our only RW and Hoolahan only CAM and as Grabban is out of favour we could try to snatch a player that is cabable to play at least two of those positions to get some more depth to our bench and challenge Hoolahan and Redmond for their places.

Townsend's problems with Tottenham could make him worth of try. Decent player and event with that big star attitude he could be useful. None of bigger teams seems to be interested so he has to look playtime from lower profile teams. Another rumour is that Barcelona is looking to loan Munir during the winter when their transfer ban is lifted and Aleix Vidal and Arda Turan joins the team. Mayby a bit too high profile player and mayby a bit too skinny for Premiership, but talented lad and can play multiple positions.

Also from Spain Hugo Mallo has spoken about moving during the summer window, but Valencia didn't use is clause. His buy out clause was near 10 million euros one year ago and I can't remember that he would have renewed his contract lately, Great player whose developement suffered from injuries, but perfect two way right back for midtable team and near his prime. 10 millions just probably is 5 million too much for us.

For CB's I'm personaly out of ideas. Mayby Indy Bone's suggestion about Süle would be worth of punt as Hoffenheim is second last in Bundesliga, but their defense has been quite good, but I doubt they sell at that position their season's best player thus far middle of season. 

 

[KeiranShikari]

CB is the position we really missed out on in the summer thus I'd be very disappointed if we didn't fill that gap. Don't think we'll move for a right back with Whitts, Wisdom and even Martin in the squad this season.Certainly in the summer though.

Doubt we'll go for another right sided winger as we're not getting better than Redmond and I believe that is our stand on January transfers, a player has got to be better or offer something different to what we have.

Also doubt we'll be going for another attacking midfielder as Dorrans and Howson are perfectly capable in the role if Hoolahan were to miss games. Think that could in fact be Howson's long term position here.

As for Townsend, I think a bigger club will get him and I doubt Neil would be impressed with his attitude if those reports are true anyway.

Not going to bother making any suggestions as 2 months is a long time in football and I imagine our pulling power could vary quite a lot depending on how the next 7-12 games go.

 

[Canaryboy]

I think he's overrated personally.

I'm not saying he isn't good enough for us, but if joins a bottom half Prem team (like us) I don't think he'd be a big fish, rather he'll have just found his level, so doesn't excite me for £8m.

Not when we need defenders.

 

[Dubai Mark]

For me, its a quality CB, another RB and wide player for the right both with lots of strength and pace, cant have enough of both these things in this league.

 

[brhdodds]

Priority has to be CB. It seemed AN was willing to splash the cash on quality with names like Nkoulou and Koulibaly's names mentioned, would like to see that thinking carried on in Jan. Nkoulou now being linked with Chelsea. Tom Lees' name mentioned on the Pink 'un, although I think he will be a good player, I'd rather see a more established name.

I'd like us to bring in a quality RB, but can't see it happening unless we sell Whittaker.

We might have to get a striker in if Lafferty and Grabban both go, they will probably both want to leave.

 

[eatonparkboy]

We all agree and I expect AN would also, that we need a class CB. Maybe this is the area where we need to spend the bigger transfer fee. We all love the thought of class strikers coming for big money but I think we have shown enough ability in other areas to keep this team in this league. We can ad will score goals but it isn't any good coring two goals if we let in three or make a vital mistake at 0-0 and lose the game.

Trouble is, the best Championship CB's are in teams doing well and about the only one with a bit of a pedigree is Hanley at Blackburn but is he any better than his international team mate?

And I don't see many Prem teams coughing up a class CB so it is going to have to be from the continent, and quite frankly I haven't a clue about that.

 

[Beauseant]

The trouble with the January window is that prices are hiked and most of the business happens at the end of the month when the dominoes start falling. I think you'll see Turner, Hooper, Lafferty and Grabban go in which case a striker is a must, but I think that and a CB (and Lees seems to be the current favourite) is about all we'll get.

 

[eatonparkboy]

The trouble with the January window is that prices are hiked and most of the business happens at the end of the month when the dominoes start falling. I think you'll see Turner, Hooper, Lafferty and Grabban go in which case a striker is a must, but I think that and a CB (and Lees seems to be the current favourite) is about all we'll get.

But he won't let Grabban go until he has a replacement will he? Hooper obviously doesn't fit as he is a 4-4-2 man and Lafferty just isn't going to get a look in but we will need a minimum of three strikers.

 

[GJP]

January windows haven't been great for us recently. Howson was probably the last really good January deal for us.

We get told it's difficult, prices are high, no value for money etc but it's not like other clubs don't do business.  Not every January signing pays off but some do.

Not signing a CB would be foolish, imo. If Bassong got injured for any real length of time we'd be down.

 

[RhythmicTheory]

We generally dont sign anyone of note in Jan, as most have pointed out.  All I can see at most is a CB and a RB, though would be happy with that, it would still surprise me.  Tom Lees and Sam Byram is the sort of young and hungry that I think is the best we can expect (not that thats a bad thing), but we are going to pay well over the odds if we do, 15mill wouldnt surprise me.

 

[brhdodds]

The young Wolves right back Dominic Iorfa looks a promising player, loads of pace and power. Made it into the England U21 squad and even trained with the full squad. Hopefully Wolves will be less tricky to deal with now they're very much mid-table. We may need a bit more of a finished article though.