With just four days of the January transfer window remaining, what should Swindon Town fans be looking out for as the month draws to a close?
Following a string of wild Januarys in which Swindon have had to rebuild their squad halfway through the season, this has been a fairly lowkey window with just three deals going in both ways.
Tom Nichols and Joe Westley have joined on loan from Mansfield Town and Burnley respectively, whilst Rosaire Longelo joined Salford City on a permanent deal, for which Swindon will receive a sell-on were The Ammies to get a fee for him in the future.
It looks likely that this may remain a fairly calm window, which is not the way it was looking a few short weeks ago, in which Ian Holloway is content with the group of players he has at his disposal and would only make a move if something exceptional came along.
A lot of this is due to the restrictions that Town have been working within during the month. Due to their spending over the summer, Holloway has been forced to make room in the budget before bringing in any reinforcements, which contributed to the decision to sell Longelo.
He said last week: “We are over our budget, I have brought Tom in and I have to get that off and for what Longelo was on, he wasn’t producing the games that we needed him to be.”
This means that any incoming would likely have to be triggered by an exit. Harry Smith and Joel McGregor have been labelled as untouchable this month and Town are also resistant to any departure for Will Wright.
One situation which is still up in the air is Joel Cotterill. The Swansea City loanee could still be recalled before the window shuts on February 3 as Luke Williams’ side struggle for form but Swindon still want to keep hold of him.
Swindon also remain in a stand-off with Sheffield United over Miguel Freckleton, the Championship club have turned down their request to send him back as they would require him to find a new loan destination to accept that. The defender has also been injured since November.
Holloway has said that he has been working on one transfer which could happen even if no players head out over the next few days, although he is “not confident that will happen.”
As for what they would ideally like to bring in, Swindon have been looking at goalkeepers this month to help execute their aggressive style of play.
Jack Bycroft and Dan Barden have shared starting duties this season and it seems like if an upgrade can be found who fits the mould of a goalkeeper who is comfortable coming out and sweeping then Holloway could be tempted.
Town have also struggled heavily with injury problems in defence this season, Grant Hall and McGregor have returned to full training this week, but Billy Kirkman, Harrison Minturn, and Freckleton remain injured and further cover could prove to be useful.
