The transfer window is not yet at the half-way point, however we Walsall fans grow more anxious about new arrivals as each day goes on. It has been seen as a bigger window than we would have liked, with Jake Scrimshaw returning to parent club Bournemouth, and then quickly being loaned out to fellow League Two Side Newport County. There is also the small matter of Rory Holden being injured for the rest of the season, meaning that our attack looks even weaker and more fragile than before the window started.
We were already anticipating a replacement for Rory Holden, and with money being low, the prospect of a free loan was all that we could have hoped for, and although this is the case, we will need two players to fill the gaps. Personally, I feel a right winger, and a creative midfielder are the ways to go. Getting a right winger is my top priority, as it would move Josh up top, to either play 4-4-2, or 4-2-3-1, with him playing slightly behind the Striker.
These are both likely to be free loans, or very cheap players to sign, meaning they may be unproven players. I feel that we have a wait on our hands, as clubs will be holding out for a deal on their players. Take Scrimshaw for example. I feel that Bournemouth were waiting until late in the market before sending him out. We were obviously interested in him, but Bournemouth were probably hoping a side would come in offering a percentage of his wages too.
We will see players signing elsewhere, and we will need to remain patient. The clubs of the players we are after will wait and see if a better deal comes along. I am anticipating a player to come in very late in the window, even on the last day. Not only for the reason before, but I also think players will become available later on in the window as transfers elsewhere are made. If a player is kept to provide a backup for the first team, and even a backup for a spot on the bench, they won’t be available. However, if a player comes in to fill that bench, or even first team spot, it will push them down the pecking order.
I hope we aren’t waiting too long, as we have some bad memories with late loan January transfers. But I feel that we have a targets list, it is all about when the parent clubs are willing to let them go, and if anyone else will pay money before we are able to sign them.
