January transfer window - early deals preferable for Yorkshire’s clubs over usual late scramble

All Yorkshire’s league clubs will be aiming to improve their squads, but doing it in a pandemic is another thing altogether.

Cardiff City manager Neil Harris might have been exaggerating when he said: “No football club is going to be spending money in January because it’s just not possible,” but it will certainly be very tough.

As October’s window shut, clubs were hoping by January stadia would be open and revenue streams flowing once more.

Apart from a brief trickle which bypassed South, West and East Yorkshire, that has not been the case, making money extremely tight.

Sheffield Wednesday’s inability to pay their November wages in full and on time – since rectified – was a warning to any fans with delusions of a new manager going on a spending spree.

Post-Brexit work permit requirements will make pushing through deals struck harder still.

There could be an exception or two in the Premier League, which spent in the summer like 20 chairmen had not seen the news for six months, but even they are losing significant money and the richer clubs try to avoid the January sales for fear of being fleeced.

For the desperate, like Sheffield United, it could be tough.

With just two points from 17 matches, players are not going to be queuing up to play for them – not the quality of players they need. Manchester United’s Jesse Lingard has been mooted as a possible loan signing but may have at least one better offer – perhaps at West Ham United.

Having been recently installed at West Bromwich Albion, it is not unreasonable to think Sam Allardyce might look to shake up a squad built for a different type of football, and that he might be in a similar market to Chris Wilder.

The Blades manager wanted a left-sided central defender when Jack O’Connell’s season ended in time for him to get one, but the reluctance to back him has proved extremely costly. Sampdoria’s Omar Colley and Preston North End’s Ben Davies were linked then, and have been again.

The Blades are only looking for two loans this month, one possibly a loan-to-buy. That would seem to rule out Davies, priced at £10m in October but now in the final months of a contract he appears unprepared to extend.

Wilder also needs to reinvigorate a midfield that lost its way in 2020. John Fleck’s fitness has been patchy since the first lockdown, Oliver Norwood’s confidence worse. John Lundstram has made no impact as he winds down his final Bramall Lane season.

The one plus, Sander Berge, has been ruled out for three months with a tendon injury.

It has left the Blades without the runners from deep who can add an extra attacking dimension – hence the interest in Lingard.

Leeds United can be more choosy but would look better for a specialist left-back – Stuart Dallas fighting fires elsewhere has left Ezgjan Alioski looking a little short there defensively at times – and with Rodrigo impressing as a midfielder, another centre-forward to do the job we thought he joined for would be welcome.

Hull City and Doncaster Rovers are looking for missing pieces to escape League One, Rotherham United and Sheffield Wednesday the insurance to keep them out.

Rotherham’s squad has been stretched by the step up a division, Wednesday’s unbalanced by their budget shopping in the last window. Rumours of Queens Park Rangers interest in Jordan Rhodes will be very welcome at Hillsborough, because both South Yorkshire clubs are working on tight resources.

Bristol City ending Hakeeb Adelakun’s loan early created a gap in what looked a big squad at Hull, where there is a stand-off with fellow winger Keane Lewis-Potter over a contract clause.

Doncaster need a goalkeeper after having to make do and mend with emergency loanee Joe Lumley, but must also keep captain Ben Whiteman and extend winger Josh Sims’s loan.

Barnsley and Huddersfield Town are well-placed for comfy mid-table Championship finishes, though Reds coach Valerien Ismael wants a centre-forward and a centre-back ASAP. Middlesbrough are waiting on Duncan Watmore’s response to their contract offer and if it is a no, Neil Warnock needs another striker to push for the play-offs.

League Two Bradford City promised Stuart McCall transfer backing before sacking him and having recently appointed Lee Turnbull as head of recruitment, it seems likely caretaker managers Mark Trueman and Conor Sellars will get to do some reshaping after impressive starts to their temporary roles.

Harrogate Town were always trying to keep this window in hand and having signed free agent Ed Francis, three loans to provide much-needed attacking oomph and a left-footed midfielder are in the pipeline.

As always, expect much talk of getting things done early, followed by a late scramble.

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