2024 January transfer window - hopes, needs, expectations and rumours.

[Brazilian Villain]

Werner's an interesting one but - I suspect - so low on confidence that we may just see a continuation of misfirings.

Is that a Nazi rocket scientist pun?

[Matt C]

Is Torres getting any game time with Barcelona now, anyone know?

[Smithy]

It would be great to get competition for Ollie and at right-back in the January window, but it's the first window I can remember where I haven't been thinking, "we REALLY need to upgrade position X".  We have good players and good bench options right across the pitch now, apart from those two positions.  If Monchi could find a right-footed Moreno clone that would be incredible. 

A year ago I was terrified Ollie would get injured after we didn't replace Ings, and though he's proven himself to be carved out of granite in the last year, I still fear we're an injury to him away from the wheels falling off.  It feels like the drop-off in quality behind him is higher than anywhere else in the squad.  I think it would be bordering on negligent to go through a THIRD transfer window without bringing in a proper back-up for him.  I hope they correct that this coming window.

[DrGonzo]

Is Torres getting any game time with Barcelona now, anyone know?

14 appearances 3 goals

[AV84]

Is Torres getting any game time with Barcelona now, anyone know?

I thought he was doing alright at the start of the season but it seems the last few months he's only getting brief sub appearances in the league. There's rumours starting up again about him moving in January, but apparently he actually wants to move this time.

[Bent Neilsens Screamer]

Depay could play wide and up front. Not getting a look in at Atletico. Might be a case of swapping one bench for another, although first team opportunities for a striker would be limited for anyone coming in as an understudy.

Saw him the other night v Barcelona. He came on as sub, looking like he needs to shift some weight.

I wouldn’t like to comment on that, people in glass houses etc…

[Bent Neilsens Screamer]

Is Torres getting any game time with Barcelona now, anyone know?

I thought he was doing alright at the start of the season but it seems the last few months he's only getting brief sub appearances in the league. There's rumours starting up again about him moving in January, but apparently he actually wants to move this time.

BBC rumours, via a Spanish publication, has him saying he wants to stay. Probably more of a case Barcelona want to shift him to get his wages off and free up a squad place.

[AV84]

Is Torres getting any game time with Barcelona now, anyone know?

I thought he was doing alright at the start of the season but it seems the last few months he's only getting brief sub appearances in the league. There's rumours starting up again about him moving in January, but apparently he actually wants to move this time.

BBC rumours, via a Spanish publication, has him saying he wants to stay. Probably more of a case Barcelona want to shift him to get his wages off and free up a squad place.

Goal dot com, via AS, have him willing to leave due to a combination of personnel changes at Barca, a new striker incoming, and the Euros coming up in the summer.

[Bent Neilsens Screamer]

They agreed to buy a hot prospect Brazilian striker in the summer but I believe they’re bringing him over in January instead, Vítor Roque. Presumably that will push him down the pecking order.

[AV84]

Two mentions in BBC's gossip pages tonight. One says Morgan Sanson wants to make his loan to Nice permanent. Which isn't a surprise.

The other says Barca want to sell Lenglet to Bayern Munich (and he's intersted too) in January if we'll agree to cut the loan short.

I can understand why he wouldn't be happy with how little he's played but he's been very useful to have for the European games, especially for resting Torres. Although maybe once we're in knockouts Torres would have been playing a bit more anyway?

[tomd2103]

Depay could play wide and up front. Not getting a look in at Atletico. Might be a case of swapping one bench for another, although first team opportunities for a striker would be limited for anyone coming in as an understudy.

That's the "problem" we have to contend with if/when looking for a backup. Ideally we'd want someone with a fair bit of experience whose coming to the end of their career and would be happy to just be involved occasionally, but is still good, obviously. Or, the alternative is a young up and coming player who knows a season or two understudying Watkins is a great opportunity to learn, but ultimately backs themselves to take Watkins' spot in the team.

That's basically Ings and Durán, I know, but maybe a loan option is the solution. Someone who needs to get some game time to engineer a move, a mutually beneficial couple of months here, then they're off somewhere else in the summer. It also would give Durán some more time to learn and develop without heaping pressure on him.

The way we play, we would probably need someone similar to Watkins (ie. mobile and physical), as he plays such a vital role.  Ings was just a completely different player and nothing he has done at West Ham suggests that his best days are long gone. 

It might be a bit sentimental, but I think Tammy Abraham would be a good option, if fit.  He's coming back from injury, so won't be expecting to get a start to begin with and could be eased back in. 

[KevinGage]

Problem with that is Watkins has thrived as the main man.

Signing a 26 year old forward who has played for England, played for some of the top clubs in England and Italy and already has an affinity with the supporters could jeopardise that.

[nigel]

I think a lot depends on whether they think Konsa can be the backup RB for the rest of the season. Up until two days ago I fully expected a new RB to be the main, possibly only, business done in January. Now I'm not so sure. I can't see us shelling out massively in January, so it'll be a case of them identifying which position being strengthened would benefit us the most.

If it's not RB then it does feel like an alternative/support for Watkins is where we should be looking.

Konsa really should be picked as a CB, though. If Doku had been fit to play, I'm guessing Konsa could have taken a  caning on Wednesday at RB. I really hope we can find a ready-to-start decent RB to support our season's second half.

I wouldn’t have put money on that, mate.

[ROBBO]

No to Werner, watched him closely as Chelsea paid a fortune for him, he's speedy enough but missed a number of easy chances. Far better out there.

[tomd2103]

It's really difficult to gauge how exactly we should be approaching this window.  Do we approach it with the attitude that it is going well and we don't want to disrupt things or do we look to add a couple of really quality additions and make a real statement of intent?