Latest Hull City news and views from HullLive brings you a verdict from Championship writers on the January transfer window and what each club needs
Given the difficulties of the summer transfer window Hull City have the right to think they’ve done pretty well building a squad for Sergej Jakirovic.
The win over Sheffield United before the international break was their third from nine games and gave encouragement the Tigers can climb the table.
With all the circumstances they had to manage in the off-season, they might have settled for that.
However, not every club gets what they want in the summer market which is why there is always a second bite at the cherry in the New Year, assuming City can do some business.
But in what is traditionally a tough market, it’s not just City who will be looking to make some alterations to their squad.
Here we catch up with the Championship writers from our sister titles who give their verdicts on the best signings so far, what each club could do as Leicester hunt a striker while Middlesbrough have already banked an exciting January arrival.
Barry Cooper (Hull City writer)
Who has been your best signing so far?
Oli McBurnie, without question. And I’d probably wager he’s been the best signing in the Championship during the summer window, especially on a free. Seven goals, three assists and a whole lot more than that. McBurnie is their talisman, the one opposition defenders fear the most and their meal ticket to challenging for a place in the top six this season.
Who is yet to catch fire?
Probably Semi Ajayi. After his superb display at Coventry on the opening day, the Nigerian international has been sidelined with a hamstring injury. Having been plagued by troubles last year, this was the last thing he, or City, needed. If he can stay fit, then there’s no doubt the Tigers have a top Championship defender in their ranks, but the reason West Brom let him go was because he wasn’t durable enough, and that’s his challenge this term.
What issues do you need to address in Jan?
Too early to tell, and given their transfer restrictions, that won’t be easy. In Liam Millar, Mohamed Belloumi, and Eliot Matazo, City have three top players returning from ACL injuries, so they are like the proverbial new signings. Defensively, City have been a mess at times this season, so that might be an area to look at, but for now, their squad has a good balance and when fit, Jakirovic has plenty of options.
Are there any players who could leave?
Again, a little too early to tell. There will be young fringe players who they look to get out for regular football, but because of their situation, letting players go isn’t easy, especially as they cannot go out and buy a replacement.
Kasey Palmer is the obvious one. He could have gone in the summer window, and given the issues that developed last weekend around the Sheffield United game, it would not be a surprise if he was moved on.
Pete Smith (Stoke City writer)
Who has been your best signing so far?
Sorba Thomas has been a breath of fresh air and he’s the kind of player who can lift good players around him too. He looks a natural fit for Stoke and it’s probably a good sign when there have been some matches when he hasn’t been just double marked but triple marked. That must leave space elsewhere and teammates have to quickly work out how to make that count for them.
Who is yet to catch fire?
Mark Robins has been pretty consistent with his selection so there were four players who only made their first league starts last week. Ash Phillips is expected to move up the gears and carry on the development he showed last season on loan from Spurs and it’ll be interesting to see how Lamine Cisse and Robert Bozenik progress because they’re unknown quantities in the Championship. Eric Bocat has to raise his game to leapfrog Aaron Cresswell at left-back.
Makysm Talovierov will get a chance at some point too at centre-back and Jamie Donley, also on loan from Tottenham, is having to be patient. It’s his first season at this level but hopefully he can find his feet and contribute game-changing moments.
Bae Junho is still the one though. He’s a silky footballer and has a lot of attributes you’d dream for in a playmaker – but at some point it has got to click that he needs to transfer that into directly being involved in goals. We’ve been waiting two years for a ruthless streak.
What issues do you need to address in Jan?Most teams seem to be sharing goals around players but Stoke couldn’t half do with someone to shoulder the burden and make everyone feel like they’ll go into matches with a good chance they’ll score.
Are there any players who could leave?At the moment everyone seems like they are involved. There’s no one in the named squad who it would be a shock to see in the starting XI. There was post-deadline day interest from the continent in Eric Bocat so that could re-emerge at some point.Andre Vidigal has been out in the cold and playing for the under-21s. He’s out of contract next summer but hasn’t been keen on finding a new club.
Leigh Curtis (Derby County writer)
Who has been your best signing so far?
There are a couple of contenders for that, in fairness. Carlton Morris would be my pick purely because he’s hit the ground running and looks as if he’s been at Derby for years. They’ve long chased a forward who is good with his back to goal, but his intelligence and awareness has been just as impressive. Not as quick as he used to be, but he’s clever and he’s scored several goals already. Special mention to Dion Sanderson, who, after a tricky start, has really settled in at the heart of the defence.
Who is yet to catch fire?
Owen Beck, although that’s been through no fault of his own. The on-loan Liverpool defender has yet to kick a ball this season owed to a muscle injury he sustained in pre-season.
He’s an attacking full-back, and I think he will complement Max Johnston on the opposite side. He was very good for Blackburn, and everybody is looking forward to seeing him play when he’s fit.
What issues do you need to address in Jan?
Derby had a terrific summer window, but no club ever gets everything they want. There are still a couple of positions for me that need addressing. I still feel they are a little short of quality in the centre of midfield in terms of a conductor, somebody at the base who is capable of breaking lines.
If Derby had more time in the window then they would have probably addressed that and they are also short out wide. Corey Blackett-Taylor’s injury problems have been a nuisance because when he’s just shown a bit of form, he’s then been sidelined. They don’t really have an abundance of pace and trickery in the wide positions.
Are there any players who could leave?
There will have to be departures if Derby want to add to their squad. Curtis Nelson was left out of the 25-man squad registered with the EFL because he was recovering from an ACL injury and he made it 26 players on the books.
But it will be interesting what happens to him when he’s fit. Derby currently have five centre-backs, including him, and don’t need that many, not when Craig Forsyth can cover in there if needed.
That’s one area that could be trimmed. They’ve also got three left-backs. Once Beck is fit, I wouldn’t be surprised if Callum Elder makes way, and he’s out of contract next summer.
Jordan Blackwell (Leicester City writer)
Who has been your best signing so far?
Jordan James. To be a loanee and have your name chanted by the fans after just a month in the team means you must have had an electric start.
There were glimpses of his qualities in his first few outings, but in the past two fixtures, since he’s properly been in a box-to-box role, he’s come to life.
He’s looked good at every aspect of the game, linking play and doing his fair share of defensive work, while also making himself a goal threat, scoring in back-to-back matches, including with a stunner at Swansea.
Who is yet to catch fire?
Stephy Mavididi. He’s been okay, far from Leicester’s worst performer, but he’s yet to get either a goal or an assist in seven Championship starts.
He managed a combined 18 the last time Leicester were in the division, and so it would be expected that he’d have chipped in with a couple by now.
He also has Jeremy Monga battling for his spot, the ultra-talented teen impressing more and more with every outing, and so it’s not a given Mavididi even starts when club football resumes.
What issues do you need to address in Jan?
The squad’s still very big and so could do with a little trimming, but as far as incomings go, the priority seems most likely to be a striker.
Leicester have three in their ranks – Jordan Ayew, Patson Daka, and Julian Carranza – which is more than enough for a side that usually starts with just one.
However, they’ve found the net only once between them after nine games. If that sort of form continues, it feels like Leicester will need to look at bringing in a goal-getter on loan to hopefully power them towards promotion.
Are there any players who could leave?
Victor Kristiansen was first-choice left-back on loan at Champions-League-qualifying Bologna the last time Leicester were in the Championship, and so the fact he now finds himself struggling to even make the bench may mean he seeks a move away in January.
It would not be a surprise if Ben Nelson left on loan too. He did very well with Oxford last term, earning rave reviews from Gary Rowett, but that’s not translated into appearances for Leicester.
Craig Johns (Middlesbrough writer)
Who has been your best signing so far?
Fans will always get excited about the exciting unknown quantities arriving from abroad, but they can often take a little time to settle. While there has been positive signs for almost all of Boro’s 11 signings, in terms of best performers so far, you’d be looking at two of less-heralded additions in Callum Brittain and Alfie Jones.
They both arrived to add more Championship nous and robustness to a Boro back line lacking both last season. They’ve slotted in seamlessly to a side that has started so well. As part of one of the best defences in the division this term – a huge turnaround from having one of the worst last term – Jones probably just shades it for me. He’s been immense at the back.
Who is yet to catch fire?
Most of Boro’s young attacking players are still finding their feet and adapting to a new country, as well as a new league. He scored on his home debut, but that David Strelec goal remains his only one in five appearances for Boro so far, after a £6.5m deadline day switch. A lot is expected of the Slovakian but, in an attack not quite functioning just yet, he’s been struggling for service or to get into games much.
What issues do you need to address in Jan?
A strong summer transfer window leaves Boro looking strong in almost all areas of the pitch. They have an exciting young French centre-back, Adilson Malanda, arriving in January too. It doesn’t feel like they’ll need to do too much firefighting in January as things stand, but they’ll be wary of interest in key players, while they’d likely jump at the chance to sell Seny Dieng and would therefore need a new second-choice keeper. If the right option was available, strengthening at wing-back would be a huge bonus but not something they feel particularly desperate for.
Are there any players who could leave?
The aforementioned Dieng would be allowed to leave if someone was willing to pay the right price. With Sol Brynn now established as first-choice keeper, it makes sense for all parties that Dieng goes. At the other end of the pitch, Micah Hamilton and Alex Gilbert can’t even get on the bench right now, while Delano Burgzorg needs to show a lot more between now and then if he’s to force his way into Edwards’ plans.
Andy Turner (Coventry City writer)
Who has been your best signing so far?
Goalkeeper Carl Rushworth who has helped keep five clean sheets out of nine to date. On a season-long loan from Brighton, the 24-year-old took a few games to settle in and get to know his teammates but he’s just kept four consecutive shutouts amid some commanding displays.
Rushworth was one of only four summer arrivals along with full-backs Kaine Kesler-Hayden, Miguel Brau and centre-half Luke Woolfenden who have barely featured aside from the odd eye-catching cameo, particularly from Kesler-Hayden who has scored and provided an assist from the bench in the last two games.
Who is yet to catch fire?
Right-back Kesler-Hayden has shown exciting glimpses as a substitute, having been kept out of the starting line-up by the outstanding first choice Milan van Ewijk. Possessing rapid pace, skill and an eye for goal, the defender is getting most of his game time further up the pitch as understudy to winger Tatsuhiro Sakamoto. Last season’s player of the year during his loan spell at Preston from Villa, KKH is full of promise.
What issues do you need to address in Jan?
Strength in depth, particularly in attacking midfield and on the flanks where Lampard only has two recognised wingers in Sakamoto and Ephron Mason-Clark – both of whom have already missed matches through injury. Other players have done incredible jobs filling in out of their natural positions, but if Coventry want to achieve their ambitions this season they needs quality back-up in those forward areas.
Are there any players who could leave?
Given it’s such a thin squad, no, in terms of natural wastage. There are a number of players who might, however, be of interest to higher placed clubs but I really can’t see ambitious owner Doug King selling any of the family silver at the mid-term point of a season in which he is desperate to get promoted.
Brian Dick, host of Keep Right On podcast
Who has been your best signing so far?
Twelve new players arrived at Birmingham City and to be honest none have really flown out of the blocks.
The only new player who has started every Championship game so far is Demarai Gray, he’s shown some real Premier League quality and came to the team’s rescue in the last minute of the 2-2 draw with Sheffield Wednesday.
Bright Osayi-Samuel has also played quite a bit but he picked up a knock having done reasonably well, but no better. Patrick Roberts looks decent.
Who is yet to catch fire?
The rest of them. There’s intrigue about Germany international Marvin Ducksch and after needing some time to gain fitness he flashed in the win over Swansea.
Just when it looked like Blues had found a potential answer to their attacking shortcomings, he pulled out of the next game in the warm-up.
Eiran Cashin has had a really bumpy start and Kanya Fujimoto has barely been seen.
What issues do you need to address in Jan?
Height. Blues are a soft touch at set-pieces and can barely field three players over 6ft in the same team.
It sounds strange, you don’t really sign a player just because they’re tall – but Blues need some physical power.
As I said there’s a dearth of creativity but when everyone’s up and running there should be enough options for Chris Davies to find a few answers.
Are there any players who could leave?
Alfons Sampsted just can’t get a look-in. Lyndon Dykes was on the brink of leaving on deadline day – thanks goodness he didn’t.
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