It’s been over two weeks since the January transfer market began, and EFL clubs around the country have been working hard to seal those critical transactions before the deadline on February 1.
Here are some of today’s EFL transfer headlines for Championship, League One, and League Two clubs, as well as commentary from the EFL72 team. You may also subscribe to the EFL72 newsletter for daily updates during the transfer window…
Farke dodges transfer question
Leeds United have had a busy week with full-backs, with Djed Spence returning to Spurs and Luke Ayling leaving the club. This leaves Daniel Farke’s club short on full-backs, raising speculation over who could replace them. Ryan Giles of Luton Town is the latest name to enter the mix.
Giles, who joined Luton for £5 million last summer, was a standout player for Middlesbrough in the Championship previous season. However, he has been in and out of Luton’s top-flight squad this season. When queried about his interest in Giles, Farke remained tight-lipped.
He responded, “No, I don’t talk about any players because it doesn’t help. We only want to talk about players after business is done. As you know, I am a huge advocate of being open and honest about what we need to do. I was the same way throughout the summer. I have to admit that I am a little more cautious in January because the market is challenging.
“We have a few areas where we are understaffed, but I also understand how challenging the January market is. Of course, we’d like to strengthen a few positions. It also doesn’t assist if I say publicly that we need to bring in a player in this or that position during negotiations; it only raises the pricing.”
According to EFL72, “Giles succeeded in the Championship last season, so it came as no surprise that he earned his shot in the Premier League. However, that transfer to Luton hasn’t worked out yet, and a return to the Championship could be beneficial considering Leeds’ troubles at full-back.”
Leicester receives huge transfer boost.
One of the most high-profile transfer speculations in the EFL this January is that Leicester are close to signing Inter Milan midfielder Stefano Sensi. Previous reports stated that Leicester had inquired about the 28-year-old’s availability, as he has struggled for game time at the San Siro this season.
According to Gazzetta dello Sport, via FcInterNews, Sensi has “now said yes” and agreed to relocate from Italy to the King Power Stadium this month. While no official deal has been reached, a transfer for the midfielder is expected to cost around €2 million (£1.72 million), with his contract at Inter scheduled to expire at the end of the season.
EFL72 says: “Leicester already appear to be on their path back to the Premier League before the end of the season, and a signing of this level will only help their title prospects. Sensi would offer expertise from one of Europe’s top divisions and appears to be a no-brainer at the proposed price tag.
Stoke manager discusses January plans.
Stoke City manager Steven Schumacher believes he will grasp any opportunity to bolster his squad this month. Since taking over in December, he has already signed goalkeeper Daniel Iversen and midfielder Luke Cundle on loan from Leicester and Wolves. Even if midfield wasn’t necessarily an area for development, Schumacher believed the opportunity to bring in Cundle was too excellent to pass up.
“When the option was there to bring Luke to the club we said to do it because he will add to the team,” he added.
“If I believe there is a guy out there who can improve the team, we will try to bring him in. If we believe there is a need for a centre-forward, we will endeavor to find one as long as we stay within our budget and recruitment plan. We just need to ensure that the team improves since that is what it will take to get out of the relegation zone.”
According to EFL72, Stoke recruited extensively in the summer, so fans are understandably concerned about the likelihood of another upheaval in January. However, Schumacher appears to know where his team still needs to develop and appears to have a solid plan in place to buy the players he believes will best fit his system.”
Swansea manager is considering a ‘frenzy’ of transfers.
Luke Williams, the new manager of Swansea City, is anxious to make an impact as the team continues to work through the January transfer window. Williams, who came from League Two Notts County earlier this month, will lead his Championship debut against Birmingham this weekend.
While preparing for the forthcoming match, Williams is also working behind the scenes on transfer deals, an element of management that he truly appreciates.
“I love it – this type of frenzy to make us better,” he went on to say. “People are working really hard. We are gathering a lot of information on a variety of players.
“Imagine we are frantically assembling a jigsaw puzzle, with so many people picking up different pieces at the same time. I see a flurry of activity, with so many individuals wanting to make a significant contribution, which I am very happy about.I am quite delighted that we have so much skill and drive to attempt to strengthen ourselves.”
EFL72 says: “Coming into a new club mid-transfer window is never an easy position for any manager, but Williams appears to be ready to go, with a strong recruitment team around him. Swansea want some reinforcements to help them climb the table, and it will undoubtedly be a busy couple of weeks in obtaining the necessary signatures.
West Brom targets veteran forward.
West Brom are allegedly considering a move for Bristol City attacker Andreas Weimann. Carlos Corberan is looking for more squad cover after injuries and player recalls.
Weimann, 32, is presently the club captain at Ashton Gate, having played over 200 games and scored 50 goals in the Championship since joining from Derby County in 2018. Despite being a regular this season before his injury, he has yet to appear under current manager Liam Manning and has only six months remaining on his current deal.
According to Bristol Live, the Austrian player may not be offered a new contract at the end of the season, making him open for transfer during current window. There have also been discussions of adding the Weimann move as part of the deal to make Taylor Gardner-Hickman’s move to Ashton Gate permanent. The 22-year-old is now on a season-long loan, with the Robins having the option to buy in the arrangement.
EFL72 says: ” Given his experience in the EFL and Premier League, this may be a smart purchase for West Brom and Carlos Corberan. Weimann isn’t getting enough playing time under his new manager, and with his contract expiring at the end of the season, a January move could be the best option for all parties involved.”
