January Transfer Window 2026

[Zatara]

One of the reasons I find the purchase of Rohl baffling.

7 midfielders (I'm not sure I'd count Alcaraz) and only one can play DM:

DM: Garner
CM: Rohl, Armstrong, Iroegbunam, Gana
AM: KDH, Alcaraz

Even Garner I feel like more of an in-between 6/8 rather than a real specialist.

So next summer let Gana go, sell whichever of Tim or Rohl we think has less of a future here, buy a specialist 6, and even then we have to hope Rohl or Armstrong is starting quality by then

The midfield is more of a mess than people think imo

The midfield is weird.

LCM: KDH as a slightly more advanced 8 and Garner as a bit of a deeper 8 has a nice balance to it.

Rohl: I could see Moyes rotating with KDH.

Iroegbunam: Someone we need to see more of but currenly a player who is a tackle machine.

Alcaraz: Has the Xfactor and could be used as a 10 if were chasing a game or as an attacking RCM if we use a 6.

Armstrong: It appears as though he could play in any of the central roles whether 6, 8 or 10. I suspect he'll be used off the bench.

Gana: Where would he fit into the 11 if we are using a 3 in midfield and have 7 players?

We need to add goalscoring and passing to the midfield as well as an anchor behind the other 2 midfielders.

It really seems strange to sign Rohl to me, especially with the injuries.

 

[Zatara]

They both did that because they had squads full of championship players and basically had to. It's not remotely the same as looking at our current squad and saying everyone bar Ndiaye should be sold and replaced.

I can categorically say that I don't want to be run like Forest and am confident that sooner rather than later the way they've done business is going to come back to haunt them.

Hard to say what will happen to them. Theyre doing well at the moment.

I also wouldnt like to see many changes. I always prefer a small turnover of players where possible.

Left back we'll need to hope Aznou develops and pushes Mykolenko out.

RIght back has a clear need for a new signing.

Centre backs we can probably get away with the same 4 for another season at most.

Midfield is a mishmash

Grealish who knows and then upfront surely Barry is now the starter and we'll need another.

I hope that January we see a few players moved on and 2 or 3 incomings max. The rest of the business done in the summer and beyond then we could hopefully be a club that only brings 3 in a summer.

That would be ideal.

I would have agreed with you last year. Technically proficient but lacking tactical nous/reading of a game. But he has shown a side to his game that I thought was beyond him; which is growing understanding of the game and ability to control the tempo.

Shows the difference playing with more technically capable players can have. He is having more time on the ball and in better areas. I'd keep him for another year at least to see if he can't improve at the same rate.

Even if Garner stayed at the current level it would be crazy to sell him as hes able to play so many positions...full back, 6 and 8.

You'd extend him 5 years and unless a big offer came in for him you'd expect any manager would love him for 2 years from now.

 

[Saint Domingo]

You have to find the money and the minutes for the guys you’re buying though!

Gana will be going soon that’s inevitable, whether it’s the end of this season or the next one. We should be planning to phase him out.

I think the first two names on the team sheet in midfield for Moyes are Garner and KDH. He’ll be assessing Rohl Iroegbunam and Alcaraz whilst Gana is out.

Ultimately I wouldn’t be surprised to see us leave midfield well alone and instead see reinforcements at full back and/or upfront in January.

 

[Saint Domingo]

The midfield is weird.

LCM: KDH as a slightly more advanced 8 and Garner as a bit of a deeper 8 has a nice balance to it.

Rohl: I could see Moyes rotating with KDH.

Iroegbunam: Someone we need to see more of but currenly a player who is a tackle machine.

Alcaraz: Has the Xfactor and could be used as a 10 if were chasing a game or as an attacking RCM if we use a 6.

Armstrong: It appears as though he could play in any of the central roles whether 6, 8 or 10. I suspect he'll be used off the bench.

Gana: Where would he fit into the 11 if we are using a 3 in midfield and have 7 players?

We need to add goalscoring and passing to the midfield as well as an anchor behind the other 2 midfielders.

It really seems strange to sign Rohl to me, especially with the injuries.

I see it as this.

6: Garner, Iroegbunam
RH8: Gana, Rohl
LH8: KDH, Alcaraz

Armstrong probably comes into it if he does as Gana moves out. There’s obviously a few players who can play different positions there, but fundamentally it’s 6 midfielders for three positions, two players per position isn’t that strange. Once Gana goes as well we’d be extremely light if Rohl wasn’t available. Only takes an injury or two and these lads will be playing every week.

 

[TheBigIguana]

Mate, you don't understand ball I'm so sorry.

You don't build a team by having players for 5 minutes and then moving them on. Pickford, Branthwaite and Garner represent a strong spine of a team. Dibling and Armstrong are very high potential players that will be allowed to properly develop by playing alongside like Branthwaite and Garner who ARE consistent, reliable performers.

We are clearly trying to put together a group of young players who will grow and develop together. That only works if you back your signings, and trust that they will reach their potential. The idea that (before him even playing a full 90 for us) we sell Dibling for the price we bought him and reinvest that money into another 19 year old expecting them to immediately have the impact of Ndiaye is laughable.

Im not saying actively sell anyone. But if teams want to toss offers well above the value, well, you sell those players.

 

[TheBigIguana]

This isn't a personal attack on you, before you take it offensively.

Take yourself away from Fifa and look at how real football works.

You seem to think everything falls into place overnight, the amount of posters that have to keep explaining these things to you is ridiculous.
But you either pay no attention, or dont understand how football clubs work..

Every team that we should be emulating has done it by selling players when offers above their value comes in and buying multiple prospects with the money. It’s not FIFA. This is real life. Our next trophy will have 6 to 8 players in the XI that don’t play for us today.

 

[TheBigIguana]

I would have agreed with you last year. Technically proficient but lacking tactical nous/reading of a game. But he has shown a side to his game that I thought was beyond him; which is growing understanding of the game and ability to control the tempo.

Shows the difference playing with more technically capable players can have. He is having more time on the ball and in better areas. I'd keep him for another year at least to see if he can't improve at the same rate.

My guess is the guy he is today is the guy he will be. Which is fine! And also if West Ham wants to pay a lot for him more power to them.

 

[Eggs]

The midfield is weird.

LCM: KDH as a slightly more advanced 8 and Garner as a bit of a deeper 8 has a nice balance to it.

Rohl: I could see Moyes rotating with KDH.

Iroegbunam: Someone we need to see more of but currenly a player who is a tackle machine.

Alcaraz: Has the Xfactor and could be used as a 10 if were chasing a game or as an attacking RCM if we use a 6.

Armstrong: It appears as though he could play in any of the central roles whether 6, 8 or 10. I suspect he'll be used off the bench.

Gana: Where would he fit into the 11 if we are using a 3 in midfield and have 7 players?

We need to add goalscoring and passing to the midfield as well as an anchor behind the other 2 midfielders.

It really seems strange to sign Rohl to me, especially with the injuries.

….yet you said we should thank Thelwell for bringing in Broja despite his injury record. No matter how you dress it up, this is continually about your own agenda. No10, No6 & No8, real footy isn’t a computer game

 

[Nymzee]

….yet you said we should thank Thelwell for bringing in Broja despite his injury record. No matter how you dress it up, this is continually about your own agenda.

I dunno, you talk about Thelwell far too often.

 

[N0L1M1TK]

Garner & KDH have a good balance as 8’s. I see KDH as more progressive and capable of getting 6+ goals a season - perhaps more, Jimmy Garner a more defensive based 8 chipping in with 3/4 too. If they could get 10/12 between them that would be a fantastic return.

I think Merlin could be the 6, he’s an absolute power house. All comes down to injuries though.

For me most important piece of business is flying full backs.

 

[Swartzy]

Every team that we should be emulating has done it by selling players when offers above their value comes in and buying multiple prospects with the money. It’s not FIFA. This is real life. Our next trophy will have 6 to 8 players in the XI that don’t play for us today.

Yeah your right on that, we will be in a different place with different players by then, it's just the approach to getting their will take longer than alot of people's expectations.
We have to do things 'right' not rushed, this time.

We have to earn back our appeal as a club, which is a defining factor in the level of players you can attract.

 

[Zatara]

I see it as this.

6: Garner, Iroegbunam
RH8: Gana, Rohl
LH8: KDH, Alcaraz

Armstrong probably comes into it if he does as Gana moves out. There’s obviously a few players who can play different positions there, but fundamentally it’s 6 midfielders for three positions, two players per position isn’t that strange. Once Gana goes as well we’d be extremely light if Rohl wasn’t available. Only takes an injury or two and these lads will be playing every week.

Garner & KDH have a good balance as 8’s. I see KDH as more progressive and capable of getting 6+ goals a season - perhaps more, Jimmy Garner a more defensive based 8 chipping in with 3/4 too. If they could get 10/12 between them that would be a fantastic return.

I think Merlin could be the 6, he’s an absolute power house. All comes down to injuries though.

For me most important piece of business is flying full backs.

I agree with @NOL1M1TK with KDH & Garner in the left and right central midfield areas. KDH more advanced and Garner deeper.

So far, I'd say Iroegbunam is someone you can bring on off the bench to tackle people (not much else yet). Alcaraz someone to add creativity and tempo.

Gana & Rohl for age and injuries I'd be most inclined to want to replace.

The interesting part is whether we go for a 6 or 10 as the final piece of the centre.

Also where Armstrong may slot in.

 

[Saint Domingo]

I agree with @NOL1M1TK with KDH & Garner in the left and right central midfield areas. KDH more advanced and Garner deeper.

So far, I'd say Iroegbunam is someone you can bring on off the bench to tackle people (not much else yet). Alcaraz someone to add creativity and tempo.

Gana & Rohl for age and injuries I'd be most inclined to want to replace.

The interesting part is whether we go for a 6 or 10 as the final piece of the centre.

Also where Armstrong may slot in.

I don’t think we’ll look at the midfield in January unless there were more injuries. Hopefully we’ll be looking at a right back to allow OBrien to cover CB, and another striker.

 

[Dymak]

Yeah your right on that, we will be in a different place with different players by then, it's just the approach to getting their will take longer than alot of people's expectations.
We have to do things 'right' not rushed, this time.

We have to earn back our appeal as a club, which is a defining factor in the level of players you can attract.

Just how damaged do you think our appeal is? If you’re going to use Arsenal and Chelsea as comparisons, then fair enough, we’ve been inferior, and seen as inferior to them for decades.

But do you think we are less attractive than Newcastle and Villa? Clubs that were recently in the Championship and had Dean Smith as manager whilst we were employing Carlo Ancelotti?

The narrative has already changed! Kenwright’s gone! Usmanov’s gone! Even Goodison Park has gone!

I’ll agree that qualifying for Europe will boost our appeal, I just don’t think it’s going to take us long to do that, and I definitely don’t think we are going to have too much trouble attracting top tier players.

We have a 100 million pound player that is maintaining his 300k a week salary playing on our left wing FFS. The ugliest guy in the club doesn’t pull 100 million pound wingers!

 

[Harryflashman]

Just how damaged do you think our appeal is? If you’re going to use Arsenal and Chelsea as comparisons, then fair enough, we’ve been inferior, and seen as inferior to them for decades.

But do you think we are less attractive than Newcastle and Villa? Clubs that were recently in the Championship and had Dean Smith as manager whilst we were employing Carlo Ancelotti?

The narrative has already changed! Kenwright’s gone! Usmanov’s gone! Even Goodison Park has gone!

I’ll agree that qualifying for Europe will boost our appeal, I just don’t think it’s going to take us long to do that, and I definitely don’t think we are going to have too much trouble attracting top tier players.

We have a 100 million pound player that is maintaining his 300k a week salary playing on our left wing FFS. The ugliest guy in the club doesn’t pull 100 million pound wingers!

Mate you say Europe would help us but both of those teams are in Europe and lately fairly consistently. Both have played champions league fixtures in the last 12 months , we’ve never played one and were last in Europe what 8 years ago ? Not to mention newcastle are owned by a country and are are therefore insanely wealthy and won a trophy last year.

I’m not looking to do us down but we are years from competing with either of those sides in terms of reputation, you’re right though a European qualification would certainly start to put us on the right track .