Winter transfer window 2020/1

[John]

I was thinking that we could look at bringing someone in that would offer us options on the bench and would either join on loan, with a view to making the deal permanent or be a young player from an EFL team, that are mid-table (so willing sellers). The following list of EFL players was given by Gregor Robertson was in today's Times, that might give us some ideas, for this window or the next:

"Hot on the heels of Eberechi Eze, Ollie Watkins, Joe Rodon, Jarrod Bowen et al — all of whom have made the step from EFL to Premier League with relative ease — is a bulging stable of young talent from the British Isles and there is a greater willingness than ever among Premier League clubs, it seems, to recognise their potential. The headline acts this season, perhaps, have been Brentford’s goal-machine Ivan Toney and the mercurial Michael Olise of Reading; and you are well aware, I’m sure, of the skillsets of the likes of Norwich City’s Todd Cantwell and Bournemouth’s David Brooks. But there are plenty more future stars out there — and I was tasked with picking ten of the best.

Omar Richards, Reading - From the Championship to the Bundesliga? Richards is entering the final five months of his Reading contract and has been widely linked with a surprise transfer to Bayern Munich, with whom he is now free to negotiate a pre-contract agreement. The 22-year-old, who joined Reading after his release by Fulham aged 16, was converted from left winger to left-back by the coaching staff but has lost none of his attacking intent. Jaap Stam, the former Reading manager, handed Richards his debut in 2017, but since becoming a fixture of the Reading defence over the past 18 months his development has been remarkable. No player in the second tier has made more tackles and it is a rare sight to see a winger beat the south Londoner, who made his England under-21 bow in October 2019.

Nathan Collins, Stoke City - Collins, who hails from Leixlip, near Dublin, joined Stoke at 14, has captained Republic of Ireland through the youth ranks, and was handed the armband by Nathan Jones, the former Stoke manager, against Leeds United last season aged just 18. Collins is a commanding presence: 6ft 4in, athletic, but composed enough in possession to have played both at centre half and right back in 19 Championship appearances this season. Several Premier League clubs are reported to be weighing up bids for Collins, who hails from a footballing family. His father, Dave, played for Liverpool and Oxford United; his uncle, Eamon, for Southampton and Colchester United. His brother, Josh, plays in the League of Ireland, as did his late grandfather, Mick.

Adam Armstrong, Blackburn - Armstrong is the Championship’s joint-leading goalscorer on 16, alongside Brentford’s Toney, both of whom spent time with Newcastle United in their formative years. Armstrong, who has already equalled last season’s haul, made one Premier League start for Newcastle against Manchester United at Old Trafford in 2014, before loans to Coventry City, Barnsley, Bolton Wanderers and Rovers, which was made permanent in August 2018. The diminutive striker is a bustling, bundle of energy, with intelligent movement and what appears, at times, to be a policy of shoot-on-sight: the 23-year-old has taken on a whopping 122 shots this season, 42 per cent of which have hit the target. Harry Kane is the only player in England’s top two divisions to have uncorked more efforts (124).

Ovie Ejaria, Reading - Ejaria is one of the most technically gifted players in the Championship and — closely followed by the Queens Park Rangers winger Bright Osayi Samuel — statistically the second tier’s best dribbler. The rangy, nimble-footed attacking midfielder, who spent nine years in Arsenal’s academy before joining Liverpool in 2014, was loaned to Sunderland, Rangers and Reading, before making the move to the Madejski permanent in the summer. He has flourished with the Royals, often dazzling with moments of virtuoso skill and, crucially, is beginning to improve his creative output — Ejaria has had a hand in six goals this season.

Callum Styles, Barnsley - Styles was released by Burnley in early 2016, before joining Bury and making his debut for the Shakers on the final day of the 2015-16 season, aged 16. He joined Barnsley in August 2018 and this season Styles, who is comfortable with both feet, has impressed from the left of midfield in Barnsley’s high-pressing 3-4-3 formation, with his marriage of craft and industry. Only Reading’s Richards has made more tackles, and Styles has scored four goals in all competitions, including a magnificent left-footed strike from outside the penalty area against Nottingham Forest in November, and a low, right-footed drive in Barnsley’s 1-0 win against Norwich City in the FA Cup on Saturday. Brentford, against whom Styles scored in the 2-1 win that secured the Tykes’ Championship status on a thrilling final day of last season, are among the 20-year-old’s suitors.

Rico Henry, Brentford - Ok, so Henry’s talents may not be a revelation for most EFL followers. But after missing more than a year of football with a nasty knee injury, in the past two seasons the 23-year-old left back has become a key component in one of the best sides in the Championship. There isn’t much between Richards and Henry, who also couples the pace and energy and attacking forays with defensive rigour — no player has blocked more crosses in the second tier. Henry has clocked up 170 appearances since Dean Smith handed him his debut for Walsall as a 17-year-old, and it was Smith who took Henry to the Bees in 2016, too. Do not be surprised if the Aston Villa manager is among Henry’s suitors again if Brentford fail to win promotion this season.

Jason Knight, Derby County - Knight is perhaps the pick of a hugely talented bunch of Rams academy players — including forward Louie Sibley, 19; the midfielder, Max Bird, 20; and the left back, Lee Buchanan, 19 — who have become first-team regulars in the past two seasons. Knight, who can play anywhere across midfield or wide in a front three, is an outstanding ball carrier. The 19-year-old scored six goals last term and has two in 24 Championship starts this season. In the absence of goalkeeper and captain David Marshall, Wayne Rooney, the Derby manager, handed Knight the armband for the past three games, and has made no secret of his admiration for the Dubliner, who has three caps for the Republic of Ireland. “He’s very vocal, which is very rare for a young player these days. He gives everything in training — tackling, running, very similar to the way I was at his age,” Rooney said. “He’s the one — not just for the younger players in the dressing room, but the older lads — who others can look at. He gives you energy, desire, runs non stop.”

Harry Pickering, Crewe Alexandra - Another left back! (Can you guess which position I played?) Anyway, Pickering, who has been a permanent fixture in Crewe’s defence for the past four seasons, deserves his place on this list. The academy graduate turned 22 last month and has already clocked up almost 150 appearances. Pickering has a wand of a left foot; his passing and crossing from both open play and set-plays are particular strengths. Crewe rejected a bid from Blackburn Rovers earlier this month. For now a Championship move appears likeliest for Pickering, who has chipped in with three goals and two assists in League One this season, but his ceiling may well be higher.

Brennan Johnson, Lincoln City (on loan from Nottingham Forest) - Johnson has been a revelation for Lincoln this season and has drawn covetous glances from Premier League clubs in the process. The 19-year-old, who is the son of former Ipswich Town and Forest striker David Johnson, has a little bit of everything: skill, speed, swagger, and is a creator and scorer of goals. Johnson, who joined the Forest academy aged eight, has seven goals and seven assists in all competitions for Michael Appleton’s League One high-fliers this season and is hugely versatile, comfortable playing anywhere across the forward line. Johnson also made his debut for Wales in a friendly against USA in November.

Joel Randall, Exeter City - If a player in League Two is making waves, chances are he plays for Exeter. Since the emergence of Matt Grimes (Swansea City), Ethan Ampadu (Sheffield United, on loan from Chelsea) and Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa) from the Grecians’ academy, Premier League clubs have poached a number of burgeoning talents before Exeter supporters got much of a chance to see them in first-team action. Randall’s path has been a little different. The fleet-footed winger has made an eye-catching breakthrough this season after five loan spells in non-League since 2018. The 21-year-old possesses wonderful close control, is comfortable with both feet and at home on either wing, and has scored eight goals and supplied five assists in all competitions this season. Charlton made an enquiry this month but were priced out, according to manager Lee Bowyer. Swansea City and Celtic have also been credited with interest. Randall is another from good stock: his father, Adrian, enjoyed a 14-year playing career with Bournemouth, Aldershot, Burnley, York City, Bury, and Forest Green Rovers."

He later mentions two centre halves, Harry Souttar (Stoke) and Joe Worrall (Forest), along with Reading's Olise (who he did a piece on a couple of weeks ago and said would otherwise have been first on his list). 

[Okonokos]

35 minutes ago, Villaphan04 said:

I first found out about that ECL on FM and thought it was a joke but no it's not. Is it like 7th place now qualifies from the PL?

 

And we defo need a new striker but the problem is getting a good one to come in and be a backup

Yeah, pretty much. 1st - 4th still get Champions League. 5th and 6th get Europa and 7th gets the new one. Of course, if a team from outside these wins the EFL cup or FA cup then they'd get the spot instead, like usual.

[Supervillan78]

Anyone else think we need a quality CB? As for striking options I’d rather we started utilising Barry off the bench instead of Davis. 

[Ben]

Yes and yes, Mings needs competition and Davies is rubbish, if we're not going to sign a new striker we should definitely get Barry involved,he is a natural finisher

[paul514]

2 hours ago, jacketspuds said:

The gap in quality in our squad between Watkins and the other strikers is a concern. We will be taking a risk if we go in to the 2nd half of the season with our current forward options.

I'm not even sure that Davis would be a consistently good Championship striker. The problem is that it's so difficult to find another younger player that would do even half of what Watkins does for us. But then hopefully Lange will be able to support identifying a suitable player.

We clearly need competition for places, and we've proved that we want that with the way that we've just spent £14m on another CM, one that isn't guaranteed a spot in the starting 11.

You could use the same argument for the LB spot which, for me, is a crucial area to strengthen in the summer if we don't magically sign one in this window.

You could argue he is guaranteed a place in the summer with a loan player in his position.

[paul514]

36 minutes ago, Supervillan78 said:

Anyone else think we need a quality CB? As for striking options I’d rather we started utilising Barry off the bench instead of Davis. 

We need 8 players in my mind over the coming windows for us to have a squad full of genuine competition and options.

[AvfcRigo82]

31 minutes ago, John said:

I was thinking that we could look at bringing someone in that would offer us options on the bench and would either join on loan, with a view to making the deal permanent or be a young player from an EFL team, that are mid-table (so willing sellers).

Adam Armstrong, Blackburn - 

Good post John

From the names on the list I do know that Adam Armstrong would definately be the striker we need to buy if we are to take another striker from the Championship.

Only 23, he would be a good addition  to our squad of ever growing young English talent.

I doubt Blackburn would let him go easy given they on the edge of the play off places, but he is definately a player who would be a good signing.

[AvfcRigo82]

42 minutes ago, Supervillan78 said:

As for striking options I’d rather we started utilising Barry off the bench instead of Davis. 

 

19 minutes ago, Ben said:

Davies is rubbish, if we're not going to sign a new striker we should definitely get Barry involved,he is a natural finisher

We won't be seeing him this season. He's got a bad injury.

 

Edited January 28, 2021 by AvfcRigo82

[The Fun Factory]

1 hour ago, Villaphan04 said:

I first found out about that ECL on FM and thought it was a joke but no it's not. Is it like 7th place now qualifies from the PL?

 

 

Yes its the 'last' place of the current Europa spot so either the winner of the League cup if they don't finish in the Euro spots, or the lowest place in the league. Then all the losers of Europa final qualifying round will be put in this crap competition instead with a group stage obviously and a convoluted knock out stage. That's numberwang.

You could think that maybe you could put all domestic cup winners in a continental knock out competition and call it the cup-winners cup. No that is far too difficult. Lets just make another bloated competition and flog off the TV rights and have no domestic terrestrial  coverage at all.

[AvfcRigo82]

1 hour ago, Supervillan78 said:

Anyone else think we need a quality CB?

I would take a chance on Tuanzebe if the price was right.

[Sulberto21]

25 minutes ago, AvfcRigo82 said:

I would take a chance on Tuanzebe if the price was right.

I'd go with Harry Souttar I've been bleating on about him all season. Ticks all the boxes and is going to provide excellent competition.

[sne]

I'd go with Anel Ahmedhodzic for the CB position

[VillanousOne]

31 minutes ago, sne said:

I'd go with Anel Ahmedhodzic for the CB position

Watkins up front and you want Anel behind?

[El-Reacho]

1 hour ago, AvfcRigo82 said:

I would take a chance on Tuanzebe if the price was right.

Definitely. Knows Smith and the club - would fit right in. He's had two largely wasted seasons at United getting the odd start at RB and Mings and Konsa are miles ahead of him in terms of playing for England. If we're playing in Europe next season, regardless of which competition, we could give him ample game time. Axel and Konsa partnership could be superb.

[Sam-AVFC]

58 minutes ago, Sulberto21 said:

I'd go with Harry Souttar I've been bleating on about him all season. Ticks all the boxes and is going to provide excellent competition.

I watched a Stoke game a while back after hearing about Souttar and he was absolutely dreadful. I wondered if he'd just had an off game so checked the Stoke forum and there seemed to be a majority agreement there that he's not very good. 

[Tomaszk]

If we're buying anyone from Stoke it should be Nathan Collins.

[Hornso]

4 hours ago, Sam-AVFC said:

I watched a Stoke game a while back after hearing about Souttar and he was absolutely dreadful. I wondered if he'd just had an off game so checked the Stoke forum and there seemed to be a majority agreement there that he's not very good. 

Just thought I'd point out an odd quirk about Souttar. He's a nearly two metre tall CB who has scored 4 goals in his 2 appearances for Australia. Mainly because smaller Asian nations tend to have rather small defenders . 

Would I sign him? No thanks.

[supermon]

Folarin Balogun wouldn't be a bad shout, he's pretty hot for Arsenal's under23 and seems ready to make the step up. He'd be content on the bench behind Watkins with gradual minutes on the pitch. Would fit our young and hungry criteria, plus will have resale value. We should be all over this one.

[VillaChris]

10 minutes ago, supermon said:

Folarin Balogun wouldn't be a bad shout, he's pretty hot for Arsenal's under23 and seems ready to make the step up. He'd be content on the bench behind Watkins with gradual minutes on the pitch. Would fit our young and hungry criteria, plus will have resale value. We should be all over this one.

Surprised he wasn't loaned out, guess they wanted to give him more minutes in europa but him stalling on contract stopped that.

Better than Brewster you reckon who did really well on loan last season but that hasn't translated to premier league yet.

[TRO]

7 hours ago, Tomaszk said:

If we're buying anyone from Stoke it should be Nathan Collins.

is he better than Harry Souttar?