January Transfer Window 2026

[Efcjake]

We did, Grealish.

Dibling should be the starting winger with Ndiaye at AFCON and also next season when Grealish is off.

It's a loan though Zat. There's no guarantees he stays here beyond this season and that's part of the reason I want to see more of Dibling and soon.

 

[Efcjake]

You make a good point mate,but it's only fans that will ultimately look at the price and wonder why we've spent 40mil on a player,and wonder why he's sat on the bench.

We've affectively bought a future prospect that will more than likely be leading our attack for the next 6-8 years,once the likes of Grealish move on

We've decided to pay 40 mil now instead of potentially paying 80mil further down the line when at that point he may be out of our reach.

But I do see why people question the decision to pay 40 mil for a bench warmer,and it's also amplified because if been absolutely skint for 3 seasons,so why blow 40 mil on a prospect instead of a first team player.

I'm just impatient and want to see a bit of what we've paid for.

I have every belief he's good, now I want to see him given the opportunity to prove it.

 

[Fonzy]

Europe is there for the taking with a few shrewd signings up the toffes

Hopefully were in the mix come Jan and that forces their hand to invest

 

[WA Toffee]

You make a good point mate,but it's only fans that will ultimately look at the price and wonder why we've spent 40mil on a player,and wonder why he's sat on the bench.

We've affectively bought a future prospect that will more than likely be leading our attack for the next 6-8 years,once the likes of Grealish move on

We've decided to pay 40 mil now instead of potentially paying 80mil further down the line when at that point he may be out of our reach.

But I do see why people question the decision to pay 40 mil for a bench warmer,and it's also amplified because if been absolutely skint for 3 seasons,so why blow 40 mil on a prospect instead of a first team player.

There are two main groups in here - those that want us to buy players that go straight into the first team, and those that want us to buy with the future in mind.

Both are absolutely valid viewpoints and neither is wrong, it just comes down to your preference and general outlook.

Do we try to make ourselves stronger in the short term so we can attract better players in the future, or do we buy those players now hoping that they become the better players we would be chasing in 3 or 4 years time.

The clubs job is to find a way to do both at the same time, which of course is almost impossible to do without massive financial resources

 

[Haydn]

There are two main groups in here - those that want us to buy players that go straight into the first team, and those that want us to buy with the future in mind.

Both are absolutely valid viewpoints and neither is wrong, it just comes down to your preference and general outlook.

Do we try to make ourselves stronger in the short term so we can attract better players in the future, or do we buy those players now hoping that they become the better players we would be chasing in 3 or 4 years time.

The clubs job is to find a way to do both at the same time, which of course is almost impossible to do without massive financial resources

Whilst both the strategies mentioned are entirely valid, I think the case with Dibling is that we’ve taken a mega £ risk on a still, unproven player. Whilst leaving the team to start the season with obvious deficiencies.

We desperately needed full backs, we could have got 2 very good ones for £35 million.

We still need 2 full backs. As a strategy, watching your team struggle, because of an immediately identifiable weakness, whilst the available money was spent on future potential, doesn’t seem logical.

Investing the money for the best possible return, surely meant assembling the best possible team for this season. Maybe get Europe, higher league position and more money.

That (to me) seems a far better strategy, than buying an unproven player, of minimal use this season, in the hope his value increases in the future. Which it might not.

 

[RomanReigns]

Surely we don’t buy anyone

Grealish and Merlin is probably going to be our summer spending done as well

 

[GoldenToffee]

Surely we don’t buy anyone

Grealish and Merlin is probably going to be our summer spending done as well

We need a striker regardless of whether Barry ultimately comes good.

What happens if Barry gets injured? Beto as the only option in the entire squad up front? Terrifying!

A quality striker asap is an absolute must!

 

[WA Toffee]

Whilst both the strategies mentioned are entirely valid, I think the case with Dibling is that we’ve taken a mega £ risk on a still, unproven player. Whilst leaving the team to start the season with obvious deficiencies.

We desperately needed full backs, we could have got 2 very good ones for £35 million.

We still need 2 full backs. As a strategy, watching your team struggle, because of an immediately identifiable weakness, whilst the available money was spent on future potential, doesn’t seem logical.

Investing the money for the best possible return, surely meant assembling the best possible team for this season. Maybe get Europe, higher league position and more money.

That (to me) seems a far better strategy, than buying an unproven player, of minimal use this season, in the hope his value increases in the future. Which it might not.

So now I know which of the 2 groups you are in

As I said, I think both points of view are equally valid, and I really can't make my mind up which side of the fence I sit on.

We spent a lot on Dibling believing that is a good long term decision, but we are also spending a lot on Grealish (with guaranteed zero sell on value) to improve the team this season. It's a balancing act.

Yes, we needed full backs, but we also needed creative players. Probably even more so. We just weren't in the position to do everything at once. If we have money to spend in January, I would be surprised if some / most of it isn't earmarked for a full back or two.

 

[Exeter_Gently]

I'm just impatient and want to see a bit of what we've paid for.

I have every belief he's good, now I want to see him given the opportunity to prove it.

I definitely think we'll see him get more game time coming into winter.

 

[Zatara]

It's a loan though Zat. There's no guarantees he stays here beyond this season and that's part of the reason I want to see more of Dibling and soon.

Thats my point. When Grealish's loan expires, thats when Dibling comes in.

Not today.

Whilst both the strategies mentioned are entirely valid, I think the case with Dibling is that we’ve taken a mega £ risk on a still, unproven player. Whilst leaving the team to start the season with obvious deficiencies.

We desperately needed full backs, we could have got 2 very good ones for £35 million.

We still need 2 full backs. As a strategy, watching your team struggle, because of an immediately identifiable weakness, whilst the available money was spent on future potential, doesn’t seem logical.

Investing the money for the best possible return, surely meant assembling the best possible team for this season. Maybe get Europe, higher league position and more money.

That (to me) seems a far better strategy, than buying an unproven player, of minimal use this season, in the hope his value increases in the future. Which it might not.

Not sure how its a "mega risk" to sign one of Englands best u21 players?

We could have signed full backs in January. Wesley, Truffert and Kayode were all available for £10-20mil. All have since moved and performed very well.

Moyes elected to pull out of Thelwells Wesley talks and then went for another Rohl, injury prone Kenny Tete.

If you want to 'blame' anyone, then that is purely and solely down to Moyes.

I would argue that the strategy was neither focused on signing young players to develop, nor signing experienced players to add a short term impact.

It was a mishmash seemingly at random, of both.

The 2nd half of the season will determine whether:

Grealish at £15mil was wise
KDH will replace Gana at LCM
Aznou & Dibling get minutes
Rohl isnt an injury prone crock
Barry scores a few goals
Etc etc

We have to be patient and its been said by many managers and players that it can take 12months to settle into a new club and team.

I definitely think we'll see him get more game time coming into winter.

Lets hope so.

 

[RichCee123]

Im not sure why we would "need" 7 subs.

A number of the players mentioned shouldnt be in the squad.

McNeil, Coleman & Patterson are 3 of the 6. Do you really think they need to be replaced with 3 new signings? That seems a bit wild to me.

You need 5, plus a concussion sub plus a goalie minimum. Anything less puts you at a huge risk

 

[Tel001]

Agree and I suspect that there will be funds to add to the squad if they identify any players they can get.

January is a rubbish market, as who really wants to sell midway through a season, but there must be opportunities out there

Teams who don’t want to lose players for free in 6 months time will be looking to sell

Also players that want to make World Cup squads

The whole January is not a good time to buy thing is over exaggerated imo

 

[Swartzy]

There are two main groups in here - those that want us to buy players that go straight into the first team, and those that want us to buy with the future in mind.

Both are absolutely valid viewpoints and neither is wrong, it just comes down to your preference and general outlook.

Do we try to make ourselves stronger in the short term so we can attract better players in the future, or do we buy those players now hoping that they become the better players we would be chasing in 3 or 4 years time.

The clubs job is to find a way to do both at the same time, which of course is almost impossible to do without massive financial resources

Mix and match

You need players for the now to help give you a foundation.

You need players for the future to build on that foundation.
( also balancing the books )

 

[Rita_Poon]

You need 5, plus a concussion sub plus a goalie minimum. Anything less puts you at a huge risk

We've 3 senior GK's on the books. We're covered.

 

[brian labone]

Mix and match

You need players for the now to help give you a foundation.

You need players for the future to build on that foundation.
( also balancing the books )

I am not sure about buying young players with Moyes in charge because he seems reluctant to play them.