Winter-January 2026 Transfer Window Rumours ...

Southbank said:

We could be without Burke, Bell, Bree and Edwards at the back on Saturday. Too easy pickings for Southampton if they are all out. Another CB is needed I think, given defence first is our strategy.

Defence needs bolstering-  another durable centre back is a must - ideally one that’s comfortable of playing on the left of a three .  Burke being injured is no surprise , let’s be honest 

Callumcafc said:

I think the LWB situation is particularly unfortunate. With both Edwards and Bell injured, that’s our LWB #1 and LWB #2 both injured.

Our LWB #3 is Kayne Ramsay. And that would be fine, not ideal but fine.

Unfortunately though, he’s now required full time at RCB since Burke’s injury.

It means we are being forced into choosing between Onel Hernandez, Tyreece Campbell and Ibby Fullah because our first three options are unavailable.

It’s particularly bad because Gillesphey is the weakest of the three CBs and he could really do with a solid LWB on his outside.

I don’t know if Bree is a capable RCB but that could allow Ramsay to plug our LWB gap while Apter or JRC plays RWB.

Can't Rankin Costello play there.

Covered_End_Lad said:

It does raise the concern we all had when we signed Burke, good player but never fit.

I thought he would be a quality reserve to have in place if we lost Jones again, as we did last season. Don’t need him to play every game, but would mean we didn’t drop off (as much) as when we lost Lloydy before.  Sod’s Law that we seem to be losing so many defenders in one patch. 

I don’t think anyone saying the injuries we’ve picked up or the positions we have picked them up in have been unfortunate is correct, in my honest opinion.

We ended the window with 7 senior defenders, a lop sided defence and one where a single injury to the left hand side meant the chances of Apter playing much were slim due to an overly attacking set up.

We are a team who play a back 5, predominantly, it was criminal not to have signed another left wing back to compete with Edwards. It meant we asked Bell to play in a position that’s totally different to centre back, that involves huge amounts of running up and down and at higher intensity. It’s not a surprise he picked up a hamstring injury after playing there a few times since Edwards got his ankle injury.

I think recruitment has been fantastic and we are doing incredibly well. Nathan Jones is doing an amazing job. Just the decision to not bring in another left wing back has, in my opinion, been the catalyst for this situation.

It put unnecessary pressure on Bree to play because of the lopsided situation on the other side. It made Bell play in a position that he’s not built for now. And it meant that when available, Edwards plays every game without rotation.

Signing a left wing back this January, for me, is a must. Alongside keeping Bree.

The trouble with signing another LWB at the time of course throughout the summer window was that signing another LWB would have meant bringing in someone to either replace Edwards which would be difficult when he's been playing well or you just bring in a bench warmer probably no better than our current options.

Agreed we were a LWB light when the window closed but now Edwards is injured its the ideal time to look to sign someone to compete with him for a first team place as well as Edwards has been playing. The same is also of Coventry trying to sign another player in his position and unsurprisingly the money was spent in the other areas of the team where the need to improve upon was greater.

It was mentioned earlier in the thread Fukuda may be coming in the January window and according to Transfermarkt although he plays RWB he can also play LWB too so hopefully he can be the permanent signing to compete with Edwards or cover both positions.

Aaron Henry joins Hornchurch on loan

Now left Boreham Wood

Covered_End_Lad said:

It does raise the concern we all had when we signed Burke, good player but never fit.

The injury has nothing to do with any previous injuries he had a it was a fluke got his foot struck in the turf as he went to make a tackle that’s not injury prone that’s unlucky 

MartinCAFC said:

The trouble with signing another LWB at the time of course throughout the summer window was that signing another LWB would have meant bringing in someone to either replace Edwards which would be difficult when he's been playing well or you just bring in a bench warmer probably no better than our current options.

Agreed we were a LWB light when the window closed but now Edwards is injured its the ideal time to look to sign someone to compete with him for a first team place as well as Edwards has been playing. The same is also of Coventry trying to sign another player in his position and unsurprisingly the money was spent in the other areas of the team where the need to improve upon was greater.

It was mentioned earlier in the thread Fukuda may be coming in the January window and according to Transfermarkt although he plays RWB he can also play LWB too so hopefully he can be the permanent signing to compete with Edwards or cover both positions.

I agree, we obviously knew we were short there because we trialled Joe Bennett there for a while during pre-season. In the end though when a situation like that happens you've got to look at what's available and decide whether you have the budget to bring a player in that's worth it. Edwards is a good first choice so anyone worth bringing in would have to be better than him, and so likely more expensive, or good enough at least to compete, which would have to be worth the outlay on wages for a player who probably wouldn't get enough game time. We spent a fair bit in the summer there will definitely have been the mentality that Gillesphey would be unfortunate to miss out as it is, so him coming in for Bell or Edwards would be a good swap. Both Bell and Edwards getting injured was unfortunate but a backup LWB good enough to play would have had to have come at the expense of another signing; no Bree? No Kaminski? No Apter? Long term we'd feel that more than having a just in case LWB, a newly promoted club of our size has to make sacrifices in some areas and this was the one

Southbank said:

Garrymanilow said:

MartinCAFC said:

The trouble with signing another LWB at the time of course throughout the summer window was that signing another LWB would have meant bringing in someone to either replace Edwards which would be difficult when he's been playing well or you just bring in a bench warmer probably no better than our current options.

Agreed we were a LWB light when the window closed but now Edwards is injured its the ideal time to look to sign someone to compete with him for a first team place as well as Edwards has been playing. The same is also of Coventry trying to sign another player in his position and unsurprisingly the money was spent in the other areas of the team where the need to improve upon was greater.

It was mentioned earlier in the thread Fukuda may be coming in the January window and according to Transfermarkt although he plays RWB he can also play LWB too so hopefully he can be the permanent signing to compete with Edwards or cover both positions.

I agree, we obviously knew we were short there because we trialled Joe Bennett there for a while during pre-season. In the end though when a situation like that happens you've got to look at what's available and decide whether you have the budget to bring a player in that's worth it. Edwards is a good first choice so anyone worth bringing in would have to be better than him, and so likely more expensive, or good enough at least to compete, which would have to be worth the outlay on wages for a player who probably wouldn't get enough game time. We spent a fair bit in the summer there will definitely have been the mentality that Gillesphey would be unfortunate to miss out as it is, so him coming in for Bell or Edwards would be a good swap. Both Bell and Edwards getting injured was unfortunate but a backup LWB good enough to play would have had to have come at the expense of another signing; no Bree? No Kaminski? No Apter? Long term we'd feel that more than having a just in case LWB, a newly promoted club of our size has to make sacrifices in some areas and this was the one

Having only 7 defenders in a squad of 25 was a mistake. Especially given NJ's strategy is based on a strong defence. Burke was not match fit when he joined and is injury prone, played half a season or less in the past 5. Bell has only played a full season twice in the past 6 years. Hindsight is easy of course, but it feels like a misguided gamble.
Were Lloyd Jones to go out now as well, we could be looking at a rerun of 2019.

Maybe the club hoped Fukuda would have joined in the summer, but he didn’t. If it’s true he’s signed a pre-contract and joins in January then that would be the extra signing needed. A gamble to go with 7 defenders until then yes of course but wouldn’t say a mistake, just a risk with consequences but unlikely to match 2019.

MartinCAFC said:

Southbank said:

Garrymanilow said:

MartinCAFC said:

The trouble with signing another LWB at the time of course throughout the summer window was that signing another LWB would have meant bringing in someone to either replace Edwards which would be difficult when he's been playing well or you just bring in a bench warmer probably no better than our current options.

Agreed we were a LWB light when the window closed but now Edwards is injured its the ideal time to look to sign someone to compete with him for a first team place as well as Edwards has been playing. The same is also of Coventry trying to sign another player in his position and unsurprisingly the money was spent in the other areas of the team where the need to improve upon was greater.

It was mentioned earlier in the thread Fukuda may be coming in the January window and according to Transfermarkt although he plays RWB he can also play LWB too so hopefully he can be the permanent signing to compete with Edwards or cover both positions.

I agree, we obviously knew we were short there because we trialled Joe Bennett there for a while during pre-season. In the end though when a situation like that happens you've got to look at what's available and decide whether you have the budget to bring a player in that's worth it. Edwards is a good first choice so anyone worth bringing in would have to be better than him, and so likely more expensive, or good enough at least to compete, which would have to be worth the outlay on wages for a player who probably wouldn't get enough game time. We spent a fair bit in the summer there will definitely have been the mentality that Gillesphey would be unfortunate to miss out as it is, so him coming in for Bell or Edwards would be a good swap. Both Bell and Edwards getting injured was unfortunate but a backup LWB good enough to play would have had to have come at the expense of another signing; no Bree? No Kaminski? No Apter? Long term we'd feel that more than having a just in case LWB, a newly promoted club of our size has to make sacrifices in some areas and this was the one

Having only 7 defenders in a squad of 25 was a mistake. Especially given NJ's strategy is based on a strong defence. Burke was not match fit when he joined and is injury prone, played half a season or less in the past 5. Bell has only played a full season twice in the past 6 years. Hindsight is easy of course, but it feels like a misguided gamble.
Were Lloyd Jones to go out now as well, we could be looking at a rerun of 2019.

Maybe the club hoped Fukuda would have joined in the summer, but he didn’t. If it’s true he’s signed a pre-contract and joins in January then that would be the extra signing needed. A gamble to go with 7 defenders until then yes of course but wouldn’t say a mistake, just a risk with consequences but unlikely to match 2019.

I hope the pre contract rumour is correct I’m no expert in foreign players but other teams have picked up some proper players from Asia and his highlight reel looks great. We can’t compete with other clubs for ready made players so this is an avenue I think the club should be exploring 

Hernandez was such a baffling signing. He offers nothing that we need. 

Crispywood said:

Safe to say we may need more than the two signings Jones quoted…

Nah Ronnie says we are fine.

Need a CB RWB LWB minimum in terms of depth. Quality CM and ST needed as well but since the depth is there it may have to be wait till the summer to sort that when we can ship some of the deadwood on 

Good news, after today, Southampton do not need Bree