Rovers's January transfer needs

[chaddyrovers]

What do Rovers need in January? 

What positions need strengthening? 

My list:-

Right winger back 

Right footed centre back 

Striker 

[Ossydave]

Can't see us doing much at all to be honest, by that point Baradji should in theory be just about up to speed and a 'new' player in the mix. A centre half needs to be priority, I'm writing Carter off at this point as he's proven far too often he can't stay fit. We should really be sniffing round the loan market but I know VI doesn't favour loans.

We won't sign more than 1 or 2.

 

[B16Rover]

Baradji is like a new signing and has been touted before as right wing cover.  O'Riordan will likely be recalled as the other 'like a new signing'

If that happens, any money we've got left over should go on the best finisher we can afford

[Ricky]

I’ve got no issue with O’Riordon coming in as the extra CB. He’s our player so let’s have a look at him. Do think we need right back cover, silly to let Duru go as he would have been a good option. If we want to play 2 up top we need another forward so I’d like us to bring some quality in there ideally. 

[KentExile]

1 minute ago, Ricky said:

I’ve got no issue with O’Riordon coming in as the extra CB. He’s our player so let’s have a look at him. Do think we need right back cover, silly to let Duru go as he would have been a good option. If we want to play 2 up top we need another forward so I’d like us to bring some quality in there ideally. 

Duru hasn't played for his loan team in weeks (and doesn't even make their bench these days) so likely they chose to send him back in January

Hey presto... like a new signing

[AJW]

We will look stranger once we get the injured players back but for me Centre Midfield is week .. TGH , Tavares and Montgomery Forshaw .. that is piss poor imo and Tronstad will be off end of season so work need to be done there 

[KentExile]

3 minutes ago, AJW said:

We will look stranger once we get the injured players back but for me Centre Midfield is week .. TGH , Tavares and Montgomery Forshaw .. that is piss poor imo and Tronstad will be off end of season so work need to be done there 

don't worry, Jake Garrett & Baradji will be fit soon... like 2 new signings 😉 

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

51 minutes ago, Ricky said:

I’ve got no issue with O’Riordon coming in as the extra CB. He’s our player so let’s have a look at him. Do think we need right back cover, silly to let Duru go as he would have been a good option. If we want to play 2 up top we need another forward so I’d like us to bring some quality in there ideally. 

I agree about O’Riordan, I suspect  he’ll be recalled to be the “  bench “ centre half. I’ve only seen Duru once but my immediate impression was - he’s not ready.

[philipl]

Who leaves?

I fear Tyjon.

One of the left backs?

Any one we receive an offer for whose contract is up next Summer. Tronstad or Cantwell?

Last summer left us all bemused so no great clamour for new signings especially as has been mentioned we have returnees and an unseen newbie. Pickering has played right back in the past so might be viewed as cover for RA.

[roversfan99]

Assuming we keep the same formation, we need and simply will not get:

A proper Hyam replacement, probably a second centre back

Right wing back cover

A central midfielder

1 or more likely 2 strikers

[Hasta]

Depends what injuries we get. 

Tronstadt, Alebiosu, Toth would all need replacing if they were out for a significant period.

We also may need a centre half as I feel McLaughlin and Miller need Carter or Wharton in there. 
 

As for the rest, the vast majority should be upgradable but we won’t do that. 

 

[simongarnerisgod]

we won`t purchase anyone that will benefit the side,thats clear from past january windows,we all should be worried about who gets sold

Edited 10 hours ago by simongarnerisgod
not finished

[aletheia]

O'Riordan, Garrett, Baradji, Duru like new signings –why spend money? 😉 

[AspRover]

It depends how wedded we are to the current formation.

If we are committing to the current 3-5-2 then we need cover for Alebiosu, and probably another CB, but to be fair if we get an injury to either Alebiosu or one of our central defenders right now then we for sure just default back to the 4-5-1  with eg. Miller at RB if needed.

I think that the 451 looked suspect this season due to the midfield players not being up to speed, but it worked fine last season.

Honestly it's the first time in ages we've actually had cover in all positions (quality is arguable, but we have the bodies) - the squad doesn't have any massively gaping holes in it so the answer to 'what should we sign in January' is 'Anyone we can bring in who would improve the strongest starting 11, any position'

[Upside Down]

What Rovers need:

New ownership 

New upper management 

New first team management 

New squad 

 

Also, can this thread be properly titled as:

January Transfer Window (Press Submit)

Edited 4 hours ago by Upside Down

[Ricky]

I know Chaddy will probably have the answer but how many can we actually sign and register? How many spaces do we have left? 

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

If things stay as they are one of Pickering and Ribeiro may have to be loaned out.

[chaddyrovers]

8 minutes ago, Ricky said:

I know Chaddy will probably have the answer but how many can we actually sign and register? How many spaces do we have left? 

23 players we registered. So we have 2 spots left. https://www.rovers.co.uk/news/2025/september/08/rovers-submit-2025-26-squad-list/

Any signings under 21 wouldn't need to be register. 

 

[AJW]

26 minutes ago, Tyrone Shoelaces said:

If things stay as they are one of Pickering and Ribeiro may have to be loaned out.

Not been that impressed with McLoughlin if we continue with the current formation I would rather play Ribeiro on the left of the 3 

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

Just now, AJW said:

Not been that impressed with McLoughlin if we continue with the current formation I would rather play Ribeiro on the left of the 3 

Or Pickering. He looked comfortable there when he played as an emergency centre half. His passing out of defence was good and he’s tall enough to cope with headed challenges.

[Ricky]

1 hour ago, chaddyrovers said:

23 players we registered. So we have 2 spots left. https://www.rovers.co.uk/news/2025/september/08/rovers-submit-2025-26-squad-list/

Any signings under 21 wouldn't need to be register. 

 

So I doubt we’ll be signing the three that you would like to see come in unless someone goes out on loan potentially but I don’t think any of the squad will. We also didn’t include Garrett in the 25 (is he over 21 now?). Centre half will be a loan recall which makes sense to me. He’s been getting good reviews in the league below and is hopefully ready to finally make the step up.  

[chaddyrovers]

1 minute ago, Ricky said:

So I doubt we’ll be signing the three that you would like to see come in unless someone goes out on loan potentially but I don’t think any of the squad will. We also didn’t include Garrett in the 25 (is he over 21 now?). Centre half will be a loan recall which makes sense to me. He’s been getting good reviews in the league below and is hopefully ready to finally make the step up.  

I also said I expect Gueye to leave. There is your 3 spots for signing

[roversfan99]

1 hour ago, Ricky said:

So I doubt we’ll be signing the three that you would like to see come in unless someone goes out on loan potentially but I don’t think any of the squad will. We also didn’t include Garrett in the 25 (is he over 21 now?). Centre half will be a loan recall which makes sense to me. He’s been getting good reviews in the league below and is hopefully ready to finally make the step up.  

Makes sense to those happy to promote cut backs rather than improve the team.

Doesnt make sense to essentially replace your best defender not with a first team replacement but with a young lad who wasnt anywhere near the first team prior to 12 league starts in League 1 who could come back to make the numbers up.

We should leave him there to continue to play and sign a proper replacement for Hyam. A centre back who can slot straight into the team in that middle position. Better late than never.