January Transfer Targets
From overseas fancies to emerging EFL talents, Riley Roberts presents a January 2024 Transfer Window Recruitment Plan.
Riley Roberts
With the January transfer window upon us, I thought I’d take this chance to have a little look at our squad — the weak points and the areas we need to improve — and then suggest some targets in each position who I think would improve our squad. It is worth noting that January windows tend to be a lot less productive than the summer in terms of squad-building, but I think it’s possible to add some strength despite it being a typically “sellers’ market”.
I should also add that any outlay over this window is a gamble. We would be spending with the hope of staying up, and if that fails, we will have to offload assets in the summer of 2024. With that in mind, I’m only going to focus on players who would have significant resale value — from overseas fancies to emerging EFL talents.
The Background
Currently, we are sitting at the foot of the Premier League table with 9 points after 20 games. It was a rough start to the season that resulted in Paul Heckingbottom losing his job, replaced with ex-boss and Blades legend Chris Wilder.
We have now played 6 under Wilder and although there has been a leap in our performances, with a win against Brentford getting everyone excited, a defeat to Luton on Boxing Day was a bitter blow and survival now seems highly unlikely. Wilder coming in also meant something else and something completely unexpected. A change in formation. Wilder was wedded to his 3-5-2 shape during his first stint as the Blades’ boss but has set us up in a 4-1-4-1 shape, for the most part, this time around, so all the signings suggested in this piece will reflect that change.
The Squad
As you can tell from this graphic, our squad-building process in recent years has not been great. By my estimations, there are 18 first-team or thereabouts players who are out of contract in the summer. This includes key senior players such as George Baldock, as well as prospects like Andre Brooks and Ollie Arblaster. It’s a mess and one that seriously needs rectifying.
To illustrate just how bad the situation is, here is another version of the above graphic but this time I have removed the players for the following reasons:
Long-term injuries
Duplicated in multiple positions
Players I expect to leave in January (and I have been lenient with this)
Positions to Strengthen
GK:
All three contracted ‘keepers have deals which expire in the summer.
Wes Foderingham has been an okay no.1 but has received a lot of criticism as of late.
What I’m looking for:
Above average shot-stopping abilities.
Competent with the ball at feet (a weakness of Wes’)
Height, >6ft
CB:
Long-term injuries to both John Egan and Chris Basham.
Egan started the season in torrid form and with his age, could need replacing.
Summer signing Trusty has often been shifted to LB.
Average age of our CBs is 29.4, a fresher body wouldn’t go amiss.
What I’m looking for:
Preferably <26 years old
Comfortable with the ball
Able to progress the ball up the pitch.
Good aerially
LW:
Squad currently has 0 players whose primary position is on the wing.
Would allow Cameron Archer to return to playing centrally.
What I’m looking for:
“Touchline winger”
1v1 ability
End-product
Pace
Preferably left-footed
ST:
Oli McBurnie is our only player capable of acting as a “target man”.
McBurnie has had disciplinary issues this season.
McBurnie, Jebbison, and Brewster are all out of contract in the summer.
What I’m looking for:
Ability to win aerial duels.
Competent at “bringing others into play”.
Shall we begin?
January Transfer Targets
Targets: Goalkeeper
Above-average shot-stopping abilities
Competent with the ball at feet
Height, >6ft
Viktor Johansson
Age – 25
Nationality – Swedish
Height – 6’1
Foot – Right
Club – Rotherham United
Probably the most nailed-on player to feature in this list of targets, Rotherham’s Sweden international Johansson has long been a fanbase favourite, someone whose name has been mentioned as a potential target a million times in the past.
That is for good reason though as Johansson has proven himself to be one of the very best shot-stoppers in the Championship since the start of last season and if not for his excellence last season, you would imagine Rotherham would be playing League One football. Johansson isn’t just a shot-stopper though, he’s fairly comfortable on the ball and does very well at claiming crosses, which is something we’ve struggled from this season.
Pros:
Based locally, easy transition for the player.
Great shot-stopper.
Confident and brave when coming for crosses.
Cons:
Would take a decent fee for Rotherham to let go of him.
Our history with Swedish goalkeepers is sub-optimal to say the least.
Andrew
Age – 22
Nationality – Brazilian
Height – 6’2
Foot – Right
Club – Gil Vicente
An international at youth level with footballing powerhouse Brazil, Andrew da Silva Ventura looks destined to have a bright future in the game. The 22-year-old has a bit of everything, making him a potential future great. Not only is he a brilliant 1v1 shot stopper, but he’s capable at coming for crosses and really excels with the ball at his feet. His athleticism and reflexes are genuinely top notch and mix this with very good knowledge of angles and how to position himself, and you get a very complete young keeper, and one that you would expect has a much bigger future than Sheffield United, a Premier League move in January could be a big enough pull though.
Pros:
Terrific in 1v1s
Very confident on the ball
Still improving at just 22
Good resale value
Cons:
Once again would probably command a decent fee.
Doesn’t speak English to my knowledge, would maybe struggle to organise the defence.
Brayan Cortés
Age – 28
Nationality – Chilean
Height – 6’2
Foot – Right
Club – Colo-Colo
Fresh off the back of the game of his life, where Cortes made a slew of incredible saves to win Colo-Colo the Chilean Cup final in his hometown of Iquique, I think Chile’s number 1 has more than proved himself ready for a step up into Europe. His initial stats in terms of shot-stopping don’t look anything spectacular but watching footage I see a brave and dominant keeper. If anything, he reminds me a bit of Emi Martinez at Villa, and that certainly isn’t a bad comparison to have. Cortes is also extremely happy to use his feet, which would give us a completely different element to our game as it means we could comfortably play out from the back.
Pros:
So much better with the ball than what we have.
Proven performer in huge matches.
Impressive shot-stopper
Cons:
Again, doesn’t speak English, could be an issue.
Not used to playing in a team which faces a load of shots.
Targets: Centre Back
Preferably <26 years old
Comfortable with the ball
Able to progress the ball up the pitch.
Good aerially
Eiran Cashin
Age – 22
Nationality – Irish
Height – 6’0
Foot – Left
Club – Derby County
Another Blades’ fan favourite target alongside Johansson, Eiran Cashin was another who it would be impossible to emit from this piece. It’s easy to see why so many would like Cashin at The Lane though seeing as he’s a young defender excelling in the EFL, he does come across as a very Wilder signing. One thing I like about Cashin is his bravery, even though he doesn’t have the best passing or carrying skills I’ve ever seen in a defender, he’s never one to shy away from the ball and this kind of responsibility and confidence in possession is something we’re lacking at the moment.
Pros:
Confident; always takes responsibility.
Set piece threat.
Aggressive, front-foot defender.
Contract up in the summer likely means a reduced fee.
Very realistic target.
Cons:
Aggressive style leads to a lot of bookings.
Nemanja Stojić
Age – 25
Nationality – Serbian
Height – 6’3
Foot – Right
Club – TSC Bačka Topola
Even though Nemanja Stojic plays in Serbia, he is actually already tested against English opposition because his Bačka Topola side have met West Ham in this year’s Europa League. Despite being 6’3, Stojic is a very aesthetically pleasing CB to watch as he carries the ball very well, making him quite similar to Anel Ahmedhodzic. The Serbian international has also played in midfield which not only shows his versatility but also how much he is trusted in terms of his abilities on the ball but this isn’t to say he’s a rubbish defender either, he’s very strong, good in the air and a very solid tackler.
Pros:
Consistently performed to current levels for a few years.
Good on-ball qualities.
Solid in the air.
Cons:
Can get beat for pace.
Plays for a good team, not used to being under so much pressure.
Mauro Perković
Age – 20
Nationality – Croatian
Height – 6’2
Foot – Left
Club – Dinamo Zagreb
With Dinamo Zagreb being a hotbed for talent in the world of football, it’s always a safe bet to assume that when they trust a 20-year-old with significant gametime, he’s probably a pretty good player, and that is the case with Mauro Perkovic. Having only joined them this year, it’s been an impressive start for the Crotian youth international who has primarily played LB for his new club. Perkovic is quick, good aerially, comfortable on the ball and a very solid defender making him the perfect kind of CB and one I’m a little bit surprised I hadn’t heard more about until now.
Pros:
Dominant in the air.
Pace
Good at carrying the ball out from the back.
Likes to get stuck in.
Cons:
Fee would probably be quite a hefty one.
Can give away a lot of fouls.
Targets: Left-Wing
Javairo Dilrosun
Age – 25
Nationality – Dutch
Height – 5’9
Foot – Left
Club – Feyenoord
No stranger to English football since he is a graduate of Manchester City’s exceptional academy, Dutch international Dilrosun has struggled for game time at Feyenoord this season, playing just 56 minutes in all competitions which leads me to believe he’ll be free to leave the reigning Dutch champions in January. Versatile, quick and a confident dribbler, Dilrosun ticks a lot of the boxes in terms of the type of winger I feel we should be looking at.
Pros:
Meets most of the criteria I laid out.
Sound ball-striking
Very nimble and agile
Possibly available on loan meaning we don’t have to commit to a fee.
Very likely to relish the chance to play in the Premier League.
Cons:
Frequently opts to shoot in situations where a teammate is in a better position.
Probably not match fit due to lack of game time this season.
Yeferson Soteldo
Age – 26
Nationality – Venezuelan
Height – 5’2 (Not a typo)
Foot – Both
Club – Santos FC
I’m going to go out on a limb and say if Yeferson Soteldo was to sign for The Blades, he would be, by some distance, the most technically gifted player to ever pull on the red and white. His tiny frame means he has an extremely low centre of gravity, and this aids his ridiculous agility. Soteldo is right up there with the elite in the way in which he can weave in and out of defenders seamlessly and his mixture of pace, explosiveness, agility, and flair make him the ultimate “edge of your seat” player. Soteldo is, however, a flawed genius: unbelievable technically, but it’s mentally where Soteldo’s issues arise. The Venezuelan has a horrific disciplinary record, with 58 yellow cards and 6 reds throughout his career, with much of his bookings being for ridiculous offences such as dissent. This, combined with the fact his stock has fallen following a hamstring injury and being a part of the first-ever Santos team to get relegated, means that the former Manchester United, Spurs and Monaco target has probably hit a point where any Premier League move will do, giving us at least half a chance of securing a move.
Pros:
Very exciting to watch.
Can play all along the front line.
Uses both feet exceptionally well.
Great in tight spaces
Deceptively strong
Cons:
50/50 on whether the move is all that realistic.
Lacks composure in front of goal.
Tends to give referees a piece of his mind, resulting in silly bookings.
Kwame Poku
Age – 22
Nationality – Ghanian
Height – 5’10
Foot – Left
Club – Peterborough United
A right winger by trade, Peterborough’s Kwame Poku ranks number 1 in all three of my winger role scores out of League One wingers. Even though he primarily plays off the right, Poku would be an interesting option for us due to the fact he has shown that he is just as capable on the left before and is left-footed. Poku has had a very interesting career so far, starting out with non-league sides Cray and Worthing before stepping into the EFL with Colchester and now Peterborough and once again, he’s outgrown the level he’s at, meaning the Ghana international could be due another leap.
Pros:
Absolutely rapid.
Has a lot of the technical qualities desired in a winger.
Very well-rounded game
Still room to grow at just 22.
Cons:
Unsure how he’d handle the step up.
Peterborough aren’t known to be a club that lets go of their talents for cheap.
Questions over ball striking ability
Targets: Centre Forward
Ability to win aerial duels.
Competent at “bringing others into play”.
Preferably able to shoot well with both feet.
Able to create chances for themselves.
Petar Musa
Age – 25
Nationality – Croatian
Height – 6’3
Foot – Right
Club – SL Benfica
A very ambitious shout to start the striker section: Benfica’s Petar Musa would probably be my no.1 dream signing. In my opinion, the Croatia international is exactly the kind of striker we could do with. Musa is tall and blessed with great pace which makes him a handful for any defence. He’s the perfect modern striker in the sense that he can create chances for both he and his teammates out of absolutely nothing. Musa has become a bit of a polarizing figure at Benfica with fans torn on whether he’s good enough to start for the Portuguese giants, and with manager Roger Schmidt seemingly having no intentions of making Musa a key player. I think the sway of a ‘key man’ role and PL football could be big enough for him to consider a move to the Lane.
Pros:
Clinical finisher, ruthless in front of goal.
Very good in the air.
Fast enough to be able to cause problems in behind.
Willingness to drive forwards with the ball at his feet.
Cons:
Would really be stretching our budget.
Player could be happy where he is, playing UCL football.
Andrej Ilić
Age – 23
Nationality – Serbian
Height – 6’2
Foot – Right
Club – Vålerenga
Somewhat of a throwback in the sense that he doesn’t really get involved in much else other than his primary job of scoring (but he is pretty good at that one job). Ilic only joined Norwegian side Vålerenga in August, but his 9 goals in 13 matches wasn’t enough to save his side from relegation which has sparked rumours of him already wanting to end his time at the club. The Premier League could be a bit of a step up for Ilic, but no matter the level, there is one thing he will guarantee, goals. As long as you put crosses in the box, this man will score them.
Pros:
Physical monster, wins duels at ease.
Good finishing ability.
Quick reactions, good instincts in the box.
Cons:
Will go missing in games where he doesn’t have service.
Clumsy in possession, heavy first touch.
Questions over whether he’d get the same quality of chance in a much better league.
Barnabás Varga
Age – 29
Nationality – Hungarian
Height – 6’0
Foot – Right
Club – Ferencváros
Not quite the age profile I intended to include in this piece, but Barnabás Varga is simply too good of a player to leave out. In his last 26 games in Hungary’s topflight, Varga has scored 24 goals. In Europe (Champions League Qualifiers + Conference League), he has 14 goal contributions in 11 games. The man is a goalscoring machine. Despite being only 6’0, Varga is one of the best headers of a ball I’ve ever seen. His movement is what pops out to me though, Varga times his runs extremely well and always seems to find himself in the perfect position to score. He’s the type of player who can make a goal out of nowhere and I feel like that’s exactly what we need.
Pros:
Excellent movement.
Great shooting technique.
Unreal aerial ability.
Good at linking play.
Cons:
Only just joined current team in the summer.
Turns 30 next year so minimal resale value.
Bonus Player:
Bartosz Slisz
Age – 24
Position: CM
Nationality – Polish
Height – 5’9
Foot – Right
Club – Legia Warsaw
I just could not help myself — in fact, I have already written up an entire piece on how much I love this player. Slisz has been a personal favourite since the summer when he came up as the type of player I thought we should be targeting ahead of signings like Souza, Hamer and Slimane, and I still think he’d be a welcome addition. Slisz has the ball-carrying ability of Hamer, the passing range of Norwood and the aerial and tackling ability of Souza. He’s the perfect midfield player for us in my eyes and whichever team he ends up at next has a real gem. Slisz has less than a year left on his contract at Legia Warsaw and has reportedly played his final game for the Polish outfit with him expected to be sold this window.
Pros:
Extremely well-rounded game.
Some of the best long passing ability I’ve ever seen.
Not going to cost a big fee at all.
Cons:
None?
Possible Squad Post-Window
Closing Thoughts
According to some reports, it appears as if the club may use the January transfer window to gamble — spend money — in the hope of saying up. At present, our squad is some way off having the required quality to make up the points difference. However, I think with improvements in the 4/5 areas I’ve highlighted, we’d put ourselves in a much better position. The targets I’ve suggested are only my targets; they aren’t rumours. This list picks out the kind of player profile that would add not only much-needed quality but much-needed resale value too.
Fantastic read from an amazing analyst. If only.
Great piece, keeping the faith ⚔️