Championship transfer state of play as raided Swansea in a panic and Middlesbrough chase Stoke old boy
Swansea City will have to contend with interest in two key players in the final week of the transfer window
Sheffield United are continuing a busy month with a pursuit of defender Harry Darling, who has been a virtual ever present this season but is out of contract in the summer. Chris Wilder has already brought in Tom Cannon, Ben Brereton-Diaz and Hamza Choudhury to bolster their bid for promotion to the Premier League and is now eyeing up Darling, claims the Sheffield Star, as a replacement for Harry Souttar, who had return to parent club Leicester when he suffered an Achilles injury.
And Coventry's move to sign Swansea captain Matt Grimes has not gone down well in South Wales. Two bids have been knocked back for the central midfielder but Frank Lampard has apparently gone back with a third.
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"Selling Grimes would be mental at almost any time. Selling him in January is an act of self sabotage beyond all comprehension," said one fan in a catalogue of frustration compiled by CoventryLive. "Just announce relegation," said another.
Swansea are seven points above the relegation zone but have lost four of their last five. Defender Hannes Delcroix has signed on loan from Burnley while WalesOnline reports that they have put in a bid of about £3m for Aab Fodbold midfielder Melker Widell, there has been an inquiry about Luke Cundle at Wolves and links with Ethan Galbraith at Leyton Orient.
But Swansea reporter Tom Coleman writes: "If we're operating on the club's own assessment that a good window is one where the squad ends the month stronger than when it started, there's no question that this January recruitment drive is already in danger of being the latest in a long line of annual failures. What's more, things are in real danger of getting worse."
Luton Town - having brought in Kal Naismith from Bristol City - are chasing a forward and have been linked with Wigan Athletic's Thelo Aasgaard, with reports of a £3m bid being tabled; and Richard Kone, who starred for new Luton boss Matt Bloomfield at Wycombe Wanderers.
Caretaker Wycombe boss Sam Grace told Bucks Free Press: "I think it’s important to say that Rich is committed. You want players that want to play for your club, and Richard wants Wycombe to get promoted. He wants to play for Wycombe in the Championship. If he was unhappy, he wouldn’t have been on the bench so I don’t think he’s unsettled. The way he played when we came on doesn’t look like an unsettled player."
Middlesbrough are closing in on a deal for former Stoke loanee Mark Travers from Bournemouth and are in talks with Rennes about a loan move for midfielder Glen Kamara.
GazetteLive write: "Strengthening their goalkeeper department has become a real priority this month with both Sol Brynn (shoulder) and Seny Dieng (Achilles) out long term. That leaves Tom Glover as the only senior keeper in the squad currently, with young academy prospect Shea Connor making the bench in recent weeks.
"Boro have been working on a loan deal to sign Travers from Bournemouth, and look set to beat Watford to his signature if the Premier League side allow him to leave this month. Travers, 24, is said to be desperate to get out and play more football in the second half of the season, having found himself behind Chelsea loanee Kepa Arrizabalaga in the pecking order."
Blackburn Rovers are trying to get one or two deals done before Friday night's derby against Preston North End.
"A number nine and a left-winger remain high priorities whilst cover at left-back is also desired. Rovers have money in the pot and are willing to spend on fees, as illustrated by the rejected seven-figure bid for Brandon Thomas-Asante," reports the Lancashire Telegraph. "Augustus Kargbo remains a live target though they have yet to meet Cesena's asking price of around £1m."
Preston are being linked with Wigan Athletic keeper Sam Tickle while Derby have brought back centre-half Matt Clarke for a third spell, having lost Stoke youth graduate Curtis Nelson to injury for the rest of the season. Plymouth Argyle are closing in on the signing of 6ft 5in Ukraine international defender Maksym Talovierov
Cardiff have signed Ajax midfielder Sivert Mannsverk on loan, hoping he can find fitness after missing most of the season so far due to injury. "I’m from Norway and Norwegians are very into English football. I really wanted to try it, and coming to Cardiff City was an easy decision," he told WalesOnline.
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