To put Brands perspective though, there is a premium to pay in January and availability of players.
We have 3 centre backs, while we may not particularly rate Keane he is perfectly fine at this stage (and is better next to Holgate). If an offer comes in for Keane I can see us moving him on and looking to bring someone in.
The same is probably true further up the pitch. If we move one or 2 on then maybe players can come in. However I don't think Brands is going to overpay for players who might not be the ideal solution.
There may be exceptions, as I said last year. I think if a young player is available who Brands feels may go up in value, potentially someone at massive knockdown price because of a free at the end of the season (potential Ryan Fraser?) or a loan becomes available I think he will take a view on it. But other than that I don't see much business being done.
The other points I'd add are that last season we improved having not added in January. While I don't think it's as simple and mechanical as that, there is a wider point to it. A team bedded in together and started to show it's best performances. There's probably a bit of that again with this group. We are beginning to find a balance, and new signings can potentially disrupt that.
The other point is, we do have some important players to come back. Gbamin and Bernard in particular will be back December and January respectively. Gamin obviously gives us another option at CB which is useful but will help our midfield. Bernard is one of our better players so he knits it all together (especially with Gomes out injured). You also add in that in all likelihood Gordon and Kean will be nearer the first team, and potentially Gibson and even Banningime may be putting some pressure on.
From the outside I think the club would be very open to losing Tosun, Niasse, Martina, Keane and Schneiderlin. I suspect that will be much of the focus.
I cant see us sitting on our hands...
CB: We will need one in the summer, could be we go for someone in Jan and let them adapt.
LB: Baines should be out in summer, we could move for a young LB in Jan to push Digne and Baines.
CM: Only Davies, Gomes (injured) and Gbamin (injured) should be currently considered going forward. Of the two injuries we dont know how long it will take for them to get match fit.
AM/WF: Iwobi, Richarlison and Bernard seem to be shoe ins with Gordon coming through to oust Walcott hopefully.
CF: Keans future seems to be up in the air with DCL as the only real alternative.
I would imagine that:
1 × CB
1 × LB
1 × CM
1 × CF or WF
Could be on the cards...my money would be on a CM.
Even having said all that, we are still short on numbers for a squad.
Pickford Lossl VIrginia
Kenny Sidibe (loan)
Digne
Mina Holgate
Davies Gbamin Gomes
Richarlison Iwobi Bernard Gordon
Kean DCL
Thats 17 players out of a 25 man squad.
Looking at the names as well, we lack a top class spine. If we were offering £50mil for Zaha and Doucoure then hopefully we go after some in Jan.
