January transfer window rumours.

[Nori1958]

I’m not convinced on Obafemi. Had a good half a season, but if anyone has earned some credit in the bank for bringing in players it’s VK and his team.

I agree though that I don’t think it’s either or, I think we could end up bringing both in and terminating Dervi… to help balance the wage bill. The accountants might well want to get shut of Barnes but I think he’s going to be invaluable to keep around until the end of the season.

Squad size is also an issue if 4 come in, plus the 1 already signed

[dibraidio]

Hopefully these two done and dusted today and possibly a 3rd over the next few days making it four in total, not bad for a January window.

Go on then, without naming names are any of your three signings players who haven't been mentioned on this thread?

[BurnleyPaul]

So much for Pace’s recent interview stating we don’t really need to bring anyone in over January (not that I’m complaining)

We don’t *need* to…but we *want* to; and we’re doing so from a position of strength!

It’s good to be a claret…

[mdd2]

Squad size is also an issue if 4 come in, plus the 1 already signed

Three slots for any player on loan of any age or any player of our own over 21 on Jan 1st 2022
Can sign as many as we want under 21 last January and play them

[jedi_master]

Blimey, do a few work calls and another signing seems close. Can’t say I know anything about these players but that is what’s exciting to be honest, learning about them. Got to trust Vinny with centre backs, he’ll know what makes a good one.

I’ll note he’s 6’2 but looks an absolute giant, be good to see a bit of height coming in as I think it might be more of a weakness a level higher. Maybe he can put a good word in for Gyokeres in the summer too.

[FCBurnley]

If we could sign Beyer and THB then that would be exiting.

[RVclaret]

Vinny not being drawn on any of these names in his presser just now. Said ‘maybe’ we’ll see new faces in before the end of the window. Also that he was watching a few players the other night in Belgium.

[jojomk1]

Bournemouth bid of £10m for Semenyo rejected

Sorry if posted earlier

[ClaretTony]

Vinny not being drawn on any of these names in his presser just now. Said ‘maybe’ we’ll see new faces in before the end of the window. Also that he was watching a few players the other night in Belgium.

I think he knows a lot more than he's saying and is just being cautious.

[HiThere]

Yeah that all seems common sense. He's never going to say we're trying to sign Player A.

[RVclaret]

I think he knows a lot more than he's saying and is just being cautious.

Agreed

[Bigvince]

I think he knows a lot more than he's saying and is just being cautious.

Any articles prepared yet CT?

[Granny WeatherWax]

Hjalmar Ekdal flying over today apparently. Fee agreed with Djurgarden.

[ClaretTony]

Any articles prepared yet CT?

Yes - but no surprises

[Jeffzie]

I hope we don't sign that number 45, the only thing I have ever seen worse than his 1st touch is his 2nd

He's genuinely a very good player though, Dorgeles Nene. On loan from RB Salzburg, rapid kid and good at dribbling too although the touches there were shocking. He's got a bright future ahead of him I reckon.

[Ric_C]

Bournemouth bid of £10m for Semenyo rejected

Sorry if posted earlier

No wonder all these championship clubs are in financial trouble. He'll probably end up going on a free

[Nori1958]

Three slots for any player on loan of any age or any player of our own over 21 on Jan 1st 2022
Can sign as many as we want under 21 last January and play them

But not all our rumoured signings are under 21, or home grown

[dsr]

Yes - but no surprises

You mean it's Andrew Driver again?

[ClaretTony]

You mean it's Andrew Driver again?

Maybe - he's still only mid 30s

[jedi_master]

Yes - but no surprises

Finally - I have had my 07/08 season shirt printed with 'Riordan 9' on the back waiting for this day for almost 15 years now.

[Claret Till I Die]

You mean it's Andrew Driver again?

OGS spotted at Gawthorpe earlier

[martin_p]

Finally - I have had my 07/08 season shirt printed with 'Riordan 9' on the back waiting for this day for almost 15 years now.

There’s good news and bad news. He’s signing but has been assigned squad number 19.

[jedi_master]

There’s good news and bad news. He’s signing but has been assigned squad number 19.

I doubt it would have fit me now anyway

[Pickles]

There’s good news and bad news. He’s signing but has been assigned squad number 19.

We're selling Zaroury?!?!

[AGENT_CLARET]

Go on then, without naming names are any of your three signings players who haven't been mentioned on this thread?

No, all 3 have been mentioned along with all the others, I never said they would be named yesterday I just said "two" will be signed today, they will be signed today but possibly not unveiled until late or tommorrow now, the other one will be early to mid next week, if that's what your getting at

[123EasyasBFC]

With McNally going on loan that frees a spot so would have 4 spaces, al-dakhil probs doesn’t need to be registered in the squad being under 20, so could still bring 4 players in, 2 strikers a cm and a cb

[gandhisflipflop]

Foster, ekdal and the big headed Bosnian please!

[Firthy]

No, all 3 have been mentioned along with all the others, I never said they would be named yesterday I just said "two" will be signed today, they will be signed today but possibly not unveiled until late or tommorrow now, the other one will be early to mid next week, if that's what your getting at

I'll save everyone the trouble.

Foster, Ekdal and the Bosnian (can't spell his name)

[dibraidio]

No, all 3 have been mentioned along with all the others, I never said they would be named yesterday I just said "two" will be signed today, they will be signed today but possibly not unveiled until late or tommorrow now, the other one will be early to mid next week, if that's what your getting at

Just curious, we had a few come in under the radar in the summer.

[Lancasterclaret]

I doubt it would have fit me now anyway

My original 1992 promotion shirt just about still fits me, but its tight!

[AGENT_CLARET]

My original 1992 promotion shirt just about still fits me, but its tight!

Lucky you, mine didn't fit me the season after

[warksclaret]

Bournemouth bid of £10m for Semenyo rejected

Sorry if posted earlier

Just shows how far we have come by recruiting abroad or getting loans of good prospects from the PL who cannot get into the first 11. Our recruitment between VK and the internal recruitment team is now sensational. For the price of Semenyo I am sure we can get three or even four young overseas players who are up to the starting eleven standard. Anyone remember Lee Darnborough-we need to get that fax machine off him, which he walked away with

[Newcastleclaret93]

Images of Ekdal at the airport doing the rounds

[dibraidio]

Images of Ekdal at the airport doing the rounds

Flight tracker time?

[MancunianClaret]

Flight tracker time?

https://www.flightradar24.com/SAS2549/2ee78abb

[Carwin261]

Ekdal plays a bit like Tony Adams in his prime ,looking at the standard YouTube videos.

[claretspice]

I think this signing of Ekdal suggests 1. McNally and Egan-Riley to be loaned out 2. VK might not fancy Taylor at centre half for the next few months.

Ekdal is 24 and a Swedish international, can't see him coming to twiddle his thumbs. Plus there is Al-Dakhil in the wings. Interesting anyway.

I think it's quite likely that Egan-Riley is seen as a potential successor to Cork in midfield, rather than a centre half. Certainly he's played there for us and it's been suggested in a few articles recently.

[Taffy on the wing]

Ekdal looks the business....very exciting player.
Hope this happens.

[RVclaret]

I think it's quite likely that Egan-Riley is seen as a potential successor to Cork in midfield, rather than a centre half. Certainly he's played there for us and it's been suggested in a few articles recently.

Possible but I still can't see him getting that chance this season, then next season in the PL is even more difficult. Hence I think VK will allow him to be loaned out. Currently JB and SB as back ups for Cork.

[Hipper]

Just curious, we had a few come in under the radar in the summer.

We need an airship with downward seeking radar or even an AWACS.

[dibraidio]

Ekdal looks the business....very exciting player.
Hope this happens.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RFj8gCgGGDY

In this video he looks very much a left sides player but wikipedia says he's right footed. Not surprising that VK is interested in a very composed footballing centre back.

[boyyanno]

I think it's quite likely that Egan-Riley is seen as a potential successor to Cork in midfield, rather than a centre half. Certainly he's played there for us and it's been suggested in a few articles recently.

Is there a player you don't want to see at centre mid

[warksclaret]

I have noticed that when we are defending a slender lead and trying to game manage in the last 10-15 minutes, VK has brought Taylor on to act as the third CH.With Beyer, Al-Dakhill and Ekdal , available it gives us good cover for THB , more height and the ability to play with 3 CH's at the same time should we want. Also, I think just about every PL team either starts or changes to 3 CH's at some stage. Its very good planning for us, which has previously been unheard of, and will give these guys game time prior to life in the Prem

[Tricky Trevor]

Always felt and still do that only Beyer out of the pair will be here next season

Beyer playing so well I’d imagine Moenchengladbach will want him back or a very large fee.

[claretspice]

Possible but I still can't see him getting that chance this season, then next season in the PL is even more difficult. Hence I think VK will allow him to be loaned out. Currently JB and SB as back ups for Cork.

He might well go out on loan this season if we bring in another midfielder. But I wouldn't rule him out of appearing more next season in the Premier League than he has this season in the Championship. We're not going to be able to be quite so geared towards keeping the ball and dominating games at all costs next season, and 4-2-3-1 could very easily tweak into more of a 4-1-4-1/4-1-2-3 shape, and Egan Riley would very much be a candidate for that holding midfield role. There are quite a number of examples of that scenario where players come into their own following promotion. He's only turned 20 a week ago remember - 6 months is a lot of development time at that age.

[boatshed bill]

I think it's quite likely that Egan-Riley is seen as a potential successor to Cork in midfield, rather than a centre half. Certainly he's played there for us and it's been suggested in a few articles recently.

Personally I don't see the midfield thing, but what do I know?
I thought VK was trying to get Seelt in and loan CJER out in return to get him playing at Eindhoven, presumably as a centre back.

[HistoricalClaret]

Personally I don't see the midfield thing, but what do I know?
I thought VK was trying to get Seelt in and loan CJER out in return to get him playing at Eindhoven, presumably as a centre back.

Well against Crawley he played the entire match in that cork midfield role and has been subbed on in several games in that position so that is quite clearly where his future is scene and on Seelt VK was not trying to loan him out rather PSV wanted to take him from us permanently and have us pay 1 million in return for Seelt.

[boatshed bill]

Well against Crawley he played the entire match in that cork midfield role and has been subbed on in several games in that position so that is quite clearly where his future is scene and on Seelt VK was not trying to loan him out rather PSV wanted to take him from us permanently and have us pay 1 million in return for Seelt.

OK.

[claretandy]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RFj8gCgGGDY

In this video he looks very much a left sides player but wikipedia says he's right footed. Not surprising that VK is interested in a very composed footballing centre back.

Looks Beyer-esque, running with the ball, quick, good in the air.

[gandhisflipflop]

Looks Beyer-esque, running with the ball, quick, good in the air.

In my opinion THB running with the ball into midfield was what we missed last week at times which contributed to a more even game.