January Transfer Window

[washsaint]

I'm pretty sure there's already a thread for this but I can't be arsed finding it.  As the window opens in a month, here would be my wish list:

OUTS
Aribo
Edozie
Matsuki (loan as hes so far down the pecking order)
Archer
Sesay (loan)
Downs (loan)


INS
Striker

Realistically I'm not sure we need any more added to an already big squad and we should be saving the pennies for next summer depending on what division we'll be in.  I know many would argue we need a GK but the club rates Bazunu and we may have Ramsdale back in the summer.
 

At GK we have Bazunu and McCarthy
At RWB/RB we have Mads, Jelert, Fellows
At LWB/LB we have Manning and Wellington
AT CB we have Quarshie, Stephens, THB, Wood. Edwards
CM we have Charles, Downes, Bragg, Jander, Romeu (with Williams possibly in the mix)
Attackers/wingers we have Armstrong, Azaz, Scienza, Robinson, Fraser

That, on paper, is a really strong squad and should be a match for anyone.  The only gap is an out and out striker.

[Obstacle1]

A striker and goalkeeper are the only sensible ins. Outs there are several players who dont seem to be involved and Downs who isnt a footballer

[for_heaven's_Saint]

Think there has been rumours that Jelert would go back in January?

[SteveBish]

I actually want to see if Archer could play like Armstrong in the new setup, I always thought he would be better with better tactics and playing like we are now

 

[Oh no Mick Mills]

22 minutes ago, SteveBish said:

I actually want to see if Archer could play like Armstrong in the new setup, I always thought he would be better with better tactics and playing like we are now

 

Sorry but Archer couldn't play the same role as Armstrong as he has a poor first touch , he's never shown the ability to pass first time the way Arma does and he'll never track back and tackle and hustle like Arma either. 

Archer is basically a non footballing striker similar to Downs but just a little better and on his day an excellent finisher.

[revolution saint]

21 minutes ago, SteveBish said:

I actually want to see if Archer could play like Armstrong in the new setup, I always thought he would be better with better tactics and playing like we are now

 

I'm not sure he's got it in his game to drop deep and link up play like Armstrong is doing at the moment but I'd like to see how he fares in the team, mainly because we're creating really good chances and he's still our best finisher.  Reckon he'd probably thrive on some of the balls Scienza, Azaz and Fellows are delivering.  That said, would be nice to finally get that physical presence we all thought Downs was going to be as well.

[lumuah]

We should go for this keeper:

Dayne St. Clair - Wikipedia

Contract apparently expires at the end of December

Edited Thursday at 16:12 by lumuah

[saintant]

14 minutes ago, lumuah said:

We should go for this keeper:

Dayne St. Clair - Wikipedia

Contract apparently expires at the end of December

Is he any good with his feet?

[spyinthesky]

5 minutes ago, saintant said:

Is he any good with his feet?

Is he any good with crosses?

[spyinthesky]

2 hours ago, for_heaven's_Saint said:

Think there has been rumours that Jelert would go back in January?

That bit of info is doing the rounds.

Believe he may be a bit injury prone

[saintant]

1 hour ago, spyinthesky said:

Is he any good with crosses?

He's already a Saint.

[HnycS]

On 27/11/2025 at 07:34, SteveBish said:

I actually want to see if Archer could play like Armstrong in the new setup, I always thought he would be better with better tactics and playing like we are now

 

Not sure if Archer could play like that I have seen no indications from him. In that scenario I think Tonda will tweak the tactics somewhat to play to Archers strengths as a very efficient finisher and get the ball to him earlier so that he can run directly behind the defense.

[washsaint]

41 minutes ago, HnycS said:

Not sure if Archer could play like that I have seen no indications from him. In that scenario I think Tonda will tweak the tactics somewhat to play to Archers strengths as a very efficient finisher and get the ball to him earlier so that he can run directly behind the defense.

Only one problem with that.  He's shown himself to be anything but an efficient finisher and contributes nothing to the team effort

[Oisin]

On 27/11/2025 at 14:04, washsaint said:

I'm pretty sure there's already a thread for this but I can't be arsed finding it.  As the window opens in a month, here would be my wish list:

OUTS
Aribo
Edozie
Matsuki (loan as hes so far down the pecking order)
Archer
Sesay (loan)
Downs (loan)


INS
Striker

Realistically I'm not sure we need any more added to an already big squad and we should be saving the pennies for next summer depending on what division we'll be in.  I know many would argue we need a GK but the club rates Bazunu and we may have Ramsdale back in the summer.
 

At GK we have Bazunu and McCarthy
At RWB/RB we have Mads, Jelert, Fellows
At LWB/LB we have Manning and Wellington
AT CB we have Quarshie, Stephens, THB, Wood. Edwards
CM we have Charles, Downes, Bragg, Jander, Romeu (with Williams possibly in the mix)
Attackers/wingers we have Armstrong, Azaz, Scienza, Robinson, Fraser

That, on paper, is a really strong squad and should be a match for anyone.  The only gap is an out and out striker.

Pretty fair assessment overall. I’d like us to go to the loan market for a striker rather than spend at this stage - would hope come January there’s one or two good quality forwards itching for some game time.

Squad is far too bloated to justify any more, much as I’d like a better GK and a real leader at the back.

[James G]

I think they'll look to Germany. Younes Ebnoutalib looks a good prospect, I think he's being scouted by a few teams. He's scored 10 goals already, and he's tall, fast and shouldn't cost too much

[Badger]

15 minutes ago, James G said:

I think they'll look to Germany. Younes Ebnoutalib looks a good prospect, I think he's being scouted by a few teams. He's scored 10 goals already, and he's tall, fast and shouldn't cost too much

If we sign him, can I be first to say that I hope a bloke whose name sounds like Eunice is as good as Marian was for us. 
 

Sounds what we were hoping Downs would be. 

[James G]

41 minutes ago, Badger said:

If we sign him, can I be first to say that I hope a bloke whose name sounds like Eunice is as good as Marian was for us. 
 

Sounds what we were hoping Downs would be. 

Yeah, well this guy scores with both feet, he's good in the air. Can dribble, he's strong, has Moroccan heritage. Good xg, so he's putting himself in the right areas. Then he's exceeding his xg by scoring. He's already stepped up from the fourth to the second division in Germany successfully. So he looks a good prospect.

[skintsaint]

1 hour ago, James G said:

I think they'll look to Germany. Younes Ebnoutalib looks a good prospect, I think he's being scouted by a few teams. He's scored 10 goals already, and he's tall, fast and shouldn't cost too much

https://www.sportsboom.co.uk/football/transfer-news/exclusive-norwich-monitoring-younes-ebnoutalib

[James G]

16 minutes ago, skintsaint said:

https://www.sportsboom.co.uk/football/transfer-news/exclusive-norwich-monitoring-younes-ebnoutalib

Worth a punt at 6-8 million. Just an idea anyway

[HnycS]

On 28/11/2025 at 11:51, washsaint said:

Only one problem with that.  He's shown himself to be anything but an efficient finisher and contributes nothing to the team effort

Agree with the second point he has played like a passenger, not sure if that can be fixed. But I have seen take some chances well.

[Sheaf Saint]

On 29/11/2025 at 15:00, James G said:

Worth a punt at 6-8 million. Just an idea anyway

A young striker from the German second division for £6-8m.

What could possibly go wrong? 

[Pamplemousse]

A striker is a necessity. If the club are smart we'll have someone ready to come in on 1 January immediately. And preferably one that doesn't get injured for months at a time.

An experienced goalkeeper as well. No reason why we can't get someone in on loan.

Another winger would be nice - Fraser is past it and we can't rely on just Scienza and Fellows.

[Mustang Saint]

43 minutes ago, Pamplemousse said:

A striker is a necessity. If the club are smart we'll have someone ready to come in on 1 January immediately. And preferably one that doesn't get injured for months at a time.

An experienced goalkeeper as well. No reason why we can't get someone in on loan.

Another winger would be nice - Fraser is past it and we can't rely on just Scienza and Fellows.

But they're not smart are they. 

[stknowle]

1 hour ago, Pamplemousse said:

A striker is a necessity. If the club are smart we'll have someone ready to come in on 1 January immediately. And preferably one that doesn't get injured for months at a time.

 

Yep hopefully our scouting department have done their research thoroughly again and we get a striker in early in the window to replace the last striker they had done their research thoroughly on and got in early in the last window.

Edited 22 hours ago by stknowle

[S-Clarke]

6 minutes ago, stknowle said:

Yep hopefully our scouting department have done their research thoroughly again and we get a striker in early in the window to replace the last striker they had done their research thoroughly on and got in early in the last window.

''The club are relaxed about the striker situation, with Ross Stewart due to return to the side shortly. The club will only move if they can find better than what they have, and they have trust in the strikers already at the club.''

Predicted media pushed line by mid-January.

[Viking Saint]

26 minutes ago, S-Clarke said:

''The club are relaxed about the striker situation, with Ross Stewart due to return to the side shortly. The club will only move if they can find better than what they have, and they have trust in the strikers already at the club.''

Predicted media pushed line by mid-January.

It would be hard to not find better than Downs.....

[Lighthouse]

With Stewart's recurring injuries, Archer apparently out of favour and Downs... let's just be kind and say 'developing steadily', I'd say the need for a striker is clearly a pressing issue. Whether someone who can improve us is available, either on loan or within our budget, is a different matter.

I'd say we're pretty well catered for everywhere else.

[Sheaf Saint]

11 hours ago, Lighthouse said:

With Stewart's recurring injuries, Archer apparently out of favour and Downs... let's just be kind and say 'developing steadily', I'd say the need for a striker is clearly a pressing issue. Whether someone who can improve us is available, either on loan or within our budget, is a different matter.

I'd say we're pretty well catered for everywhere else.

Got to be a loan, surely. There must be a half decent striker warming someone's bench somewhere that is desperate for some game time ahead of the world cup, that would drastically improve our frontline. 

[AlexLaw76]

Can we all stop being spoilt and demanding, the transfer window is open for a month so just calm down

[Lighthouse]

17 minutes ago, Sheaf Saint said:

Got to be a loan, surely. There must be a half decent striker warming someone's bench somewhere that is desperate for some game time ahead of the world cup, that would drastically improve our frontline. 

I would imagine it helps that every pub team and their dog gets to qualify for next summer's tournament.

[Rebel]

Yes - we definitely need a striker to provide cover and an alternative to Armstrong.  Ideally someone physical with pace who can play as a number nine. 

I don't think Stewart will really play again this season - apart from maybe 1 or 2 substitute appearances at the end of the season.  It looks like Archer is on his way out either on loan or permanent in January.  And Downs should go out on loan somewhere to get more experience and toughen up.

Josh Maja will only have 6 months left on his contract at WBA in January - maybe he could be a relatively cost effective solution if he's fully recovered from his injuries. 

As for Matsuki we should either play him or send him out on loan.  I would have played him over Aribo at the weekend.

[badgerx16]

19 minutes ago, Rebel said:

 

Josh Maja will only have 6 months left on his contract at WBA in January - maybe he could be a relatively cost effective solution if he's fully recovered from his injuries. 

 

As if that bothers our recruitment team.

[Toadhall Saint]

13 hours ago, Lighthouse said:

With Stewart's recurring injuries, Archer apparently out of favour and Downs... let's just be kind and say 'developing steadily', I'd say the need for a striker is clearly a pressing issue. Whether someone who can improve us is available, either on loan or within our budget, is a different matter.

I'd say we're pretty well catered for everywhere else.

Goalkeeper

[Midfield_General]

On 27/11/2025 at 14:04, washsaint said:

I'm pretty sure there's already a thread for this but I can't be arsed finding it.  As the window opens in a month, here would be my wish list:

OUTS
Aribo
Edozie
Matsuki (loan as hes so far down the pecking order)
Archer
Sesay (loan)
Downs (loan)


INS
Striker

Realistically I'm not sure we need any more added to an already big squad and we should be saving the pennies for next summer depending on what division we'll be in.  I know many would argue we need a GK but the club rates Bazunu and we may have Ramsdale back in the summer.
 

At GK we have Bazunu and McCarthy
At RWB/RB we have Mads, Jelert, Fellows
At LWB/LB we have Manning and Wellington
AT CB we have Quarshie, Stephens, THB, Wood. Edwards
CM we have Charles, Downes, Bragg, Jander, Romeu (with Williams possibly in the mix)
Attackers/wingers we have Armstrong, Azaz, Scienza, Robinson, Fraser

That, on paper, is a really strong squad and should be a match for anyone.  The only gap is an out and out striker.

I’d punt Edwards as well. Looks to have slipped to fifth in the pecking order and we’d probably get a decent Championship level fee for him from QPR or someone desperate as he still seems to have a pretty good rep but that hasn’t been borne out whenever I’ve seen him play for us. Promote one of the u21s to be fifth choice and free up probably £5-6m or whatever plus wages to add to the fund for a big, strong, powerful, hunky target man. 

[Chez]

2 hours ago, Rebel said:

 

Josh Maja will only have 6 months left on his contract at WBA in January - maybe he could be a relatively cost effective solution if he's fully recovered from his injuries. 

I liked the look of Maja in the Sunderland documentary from a few years back, but I think he is very reliant on chances being laid on a plate for him as his scoring record goes from great to terrible to great back to terrible.

He's scored 1 goal in 16 games for WBA so far this season.

He scored 12 in 26 last season for WBA.

The season before that, 1 goal in 12 championship games for WBA.

The season before 16 in 38 ligue 2 games for Bordeaux.

The season before 1 in 15 games for Stoke in the championship. 

Almost all his goals last year are from inside the six yard box. That's not a bad thing as Armstrong continually fails to get in where it matters. Goals are not everything, but I am not sure he is a genuine target man. WBA fans can see he has quality but suggest he's injury prone.