Transfer Window January 2026 Post Transfer Window Thread

[Carpy]

 

[ECYellow]

The players we can't move on is a direct consequence of our spending power and the environment we are in. There is absolutely justification to criticise them and wouldn't say otherwise, but can you not also admit that they're being tasked to buy diamonds with shrapnel?

If we go down and the recruitment team stay in post my guess is that they'll be popular again this time next year.

I disagree on the moving players on part. You’ll not convince me that those players wouldn’t have suitors at league 1 level, and in the case of HTA interest on the continent. Perhaps the deals that we threw at them are detrimental to our ability to move them on, but that would sit squarely at the recruitment and Waldron team, too.

I’m not really interested in what the reputation of Waldron, Mitchell et all looks like in 12 months time. What about the here and now? What about survival, now? They’ve had 4 goes at getting it right in the Championship…quite why they’d get another go if the season results in failure, is surely, and fairly, up for debate.

We are a lower end budget, there is no doubt. But I’m just not sure that we wouldn’t compare to many clubs that are exceeding their spending power in this league. Millwall, Preston and Portsmouth being three immediate clubs that spring to mind.

 

[TheDukeOfBanburyshire]

One thing that does make me wonder is if we go down how many of these loan with an option to buy deals will we make permanent?

Donley has an option for £4.5m. Makosso has an option for £3m. Prelec for £1m (hopefully we don't trigger this). How much is the option for Rooksen?

That's potentially £8.5m being spent as a League One club even before we sign other players that we need!

None of them. Another false dawn where all those talented players that could have made us the established championship team we all crave, get you walk away in the summer.

 

[tatabanya]

I disagree on the moving players on part. You’ll not convince me that those players wouldn’t have suitors at league 1 level, and in the case of HTA interest on the continent. Perhaps the deals that we threw at them are detrimental to our ability to move them on, but that would sit squarely at the recruitment and Waldron team, too.

I’m not really interested in what the reputation of Waldron, Mitchell et all looks like in 12 months time. What about the here and now? What about survival, now? They’ve had 4 goes at getting it right in the Championship…quite why they’d get another go if the season results in failure, is surely, and fairly, up for debate.

We are a lower end budget, there is no doubt. But I’m just not sure that we wouldn’t compare to many clubs that are exceeding their spending power in this league. Millwall, Preston and Portsmouth being three immediate clubs that spring to mind.

If you're going to only judge them by the outcome of a season, did they succeed last season then?

Preston are certainly comparable, but Millwall spend the kind of money on players we can only dream of. Coburn, Neghli, Taylor and Ivanovic have all been bought for much more than our record signing since we were promoted.

 

[ArrowsNumber9]

McDonnell, Jin-Woo and MPH were a good signings. Let's hope Donley adds to those.

The others have a point to prove... Unable to get in into the teams of clubs in League One... Hardly someone performing to a level that's demanding a move to the Championship.

When teams like Hull can pick off our top targets, we are going to struggle...

Looking a the poll above, 63% of the people on this forum were very wrong a week ago. Hide in shame!


Perhaps playing 3-4-3 will revive us - although there is the issue of having sufficient CB's for the back three, but no fit RWB.

If we play three at the back, then where does Donley play?

If we play 4 at the back we have too many CB's

We've always struggled with 4-2-3-1 - it's like a cursed formation.

#teamslikehull

 

[billyturleyscurlywurly]

If you're going to only judge them by the outcome of a season, did they succeed last season then?

Preston are certainly comparable, but Millwall spend the kind of money on players we can only dream of. Coburn, Neghli, Taylor and Ivanovic have all been bought for much more than our record signing since we were promoted.

Preston, QPR, Charlton, Portsmouth

 

[tatabanya]

Preston, QPR, Charlton, Portsmouth

The same QPR who just spent £5m on Ronnie Edwards? And a combined £5m on Kone and Burrell? Not to mention Saito and Dembele for a combined £5m?

 

[Boris]

But one does wonder what having a squad with 7/8 mercenaries does to the group morale, particularly in a relegation fight.

Mercenaries? In what way are loan players mercenaries any more than contracted players?

 

[Vancouver Yellow]

Mercenaries? In what way are loan players mercenaries any more than contracted players?

I don’t mean it from a financial pov. Loan players know they’re only at the club for a limited time, so inherently no long-term buy-in compared to someone who’s fully contracted. Just think that from a quietly mental aspect, it can be tough to fully invest in a relegation fight when they know they’ll be gone in a few months. And if a third of your squad is made up of these types of players, surely that is nothing but a hindrance in a relegation fight. There’s much less at stake for them personally, less attachment to the club, fans.. it subtly affect group morale and cohesion, especially when a squad is heavily reliant on short-term arrivals rather than players who see the club as their current home.

You’ll of course, get some like Nelson who’ll fight for the cause but ultimately, for example… I think asking a player to come in from overseas, who’s never played in the EFL, on loan, has to adapt very quickly, and in a relegation dogfight, signing last day of the transfer window… Ergh. I just don’t see any logic behind that. (Krastev). It’s 18 months since we joined the championship and we’re contractually no stronger up top than we were vs Bolton at Wembley.

 

[werthersoriginal]

I don’t mean it from a financial pov. Loan players know they’re only at the club for a limited time, so inherently no long-term buy-in compared to someone who’s fully contracted. Just think that from a quietly mental aspect, it can be tough to fully invest in a relegation fight when they know they’ll be gone in a few months. And if a third of your squad is made up of these types of players, surely that is nothing but a hindrance in a relegation fight. There’s much less at stake for them personally, less attachment to the club, fans.. it subtly affect group morale and cohesion, especially when a squad is heavily reliant on short-term arrivals rather than players who see the club as their current home.

You’ll of course, get some like Nelson who’ll fight for the cause but ultimately, for example… I think asking a player to come in from overseas, who’s never played in the EFL, on loan, has to adapt very quickly, and in a relegation dogfight, signing last day of the transfer window… Ergh. I just don’t see any logic behind that. (Krastev). It’s 18 months since we joined the championship and we’re contractually no stronger up top than we were vs Bolton at Wembley.

No one's here for that long full stop - apart from Cam and Sam Long.

 

[Vancouver Yellow]

No one's here for that long full stop - apart from Cam and Sam Long.

I’m not saying the players need to bleed yellow. Just think that having a squad where 1 in 3 is a loanee is not an ideal nor positive set up for a relegation battle.

 

[billyturleyscurlywurly]

The same QPR who just spent £5m on Ronnie Edwards? And a combined £5m on Kone and Burrell? Not to mention Saito and Dembele for a combined £5m?

Ronnie Edwards £4.5 million. 22 year old. Long term signing who’s viewed as one of the EFLs best prospects. Yes, this is maybe one transfer fee we can’t pay currently.

Richard Kone £2.75 million. 22 year old. Yet again one of the EFLs best prospects. Similar kind of money to BDK.

Rumarn Burrell £1 million from League One Burton Albion. 10 Championship goals this season. A fee we’ve paid for a number of players. We paid more for f*****g Romeny.

Saito. £2.75 million.
Dembele. Reported fee of £1.4 to £2.2 million obligation after a loan.

Now whilst Edwards was huge money there’s no reason why we couldn’t have purchased Kone & Burrell. It’s hardly mind blowing figures like Birmingham & Ipswich.

They also sold Kelman on and replaced him. We could have done the same with Goodrham but would anyone really of trusted them to spend that money wisely? Doubt it. They didn’t even replace a bang average player in Ruben Rodrigues in the summer. They thought Luke Harris was a acceptable upgrade.

 

[billyturleyscurlywurly]

Since Wembley we have signed the following 36 players:

25/26
1. De Keersmaecker - fee
2. Spencer - fee
3. Krastev - loan
4. Lankshear - loan
5. Davies - loan
6. Prelec - loan
7. L’Harris - loan
8. McDonnell - fee
9. Woo/Jeon - fee
10. Peart Harris - fee
11. Emakhu - fee
12. Konak - loan
13. Donley - loan
14. Makosso - loan
15. Roosken - loan

24/25
1. Kioso - fee
2. Currie - fee
3. El Mizouni - fee
4. Sibley - no fee
5. Ter Avest - no fee
6. Placheta - no fee
7. Cumming - no fee
8. Vaulks - no fee
9. Philips - no fee
10. Marselino - no fee
11. Knightbridge - no fee
12. Dembele - fee
13. Ingram - fee
14. Scarlett - loan
15. Ebiowei - loan
16. Nelson - loan
17. Romney - fee
18. Helik - fee
19. Bradshaw - fee
20. Mills - fee
21. Matos - loan

Interesting we haven’t signed a single player this season on free transfer.

 

[WE Yellow]

Since Wembley we have signed the following 36 players:

25/26
1. De Keersmaecker
2. Spencer
3. Krastev - loan
4. Lankshear - loan
5. Davies - loan
6. Prelec - loan
7. L’Harris - loan
8. McDonnell
9. Woo/Jeon
10. Peart Harris
11. Emakhu
12. Konak - loan
13. Donley - loan
14. Makosso - loan
15. Roosken - loan

24/25
1. Kioso
2. Currie
3. El Mizouni
4. Sibley
5. Ter Avest
6. Placheta
7. Cumming
8. Vaulks
9. Philips
10. Marselino
11. Knightbridge
12. Dembele
13. Ingram
14. Scarlett - loan
15. Ebiowei - loan
16. Nelson - loan
17. Romney
18. Helik
19. Bradshaw
20. Mills
21. Matos - loan

Grim reading, particuarly last season's list.

Where are the sellable assets in that? BDK, Currie, McDonnell? Goodrham was on course to be a substantial transfer out of the club, we're talking between £5m and £8m, we gave him a new contract, banished him out the squad for Krastev and Dembele now he's out for the season and there's every chance he's back in L1 next season rated at £1m tops.

Kioso, El Miz, Sibley, Bradshaw all sitting on healthy wages and contributing nothing to us but for other clubs. Vaulks sitting cosily on a £10k a week for the next 18 months. Dembele the same. Phillips paid out of his healthy high wage contract. Romeny looking good on instagram but not the football pitch. The squad planning since our promotion has been absolutely criminal.

 

[tatabanya]

Since Wembley we have signed the following 36 players:

25/26
1. De Keersmaecker - fee
2. Spencer - fee
3. Krastev - loan
4. Lankshear - loan
5. Davies - loan
6. Prelec - loan
7. L’Harris - loan
8. McDonnell - fee
9. Woo/Jeon - fee
10. Peart Harris - fee
11. Emakhu - fee
12. Konak - loan
13. Donley - loan
14. Makosso - loan
15. Roosken - loan

24/25
1. Kioso - fee
2. Currie - fee
3. El Mizouni - fee
4. Sibley - no fee
5. Ter Avest - no fee
6. Placheta - no fee
7. Cumming - no fee
8. Vaulks - no fee
9. Philips - no fee
10. Marselino - no fee
11. Knightbridge - no fee
12. Dembele - fee
13. Ingram - fee
14. Scarlett - loan
15. Ebiowei - loan
16. Nelson - loan
17. Romney - fee
18. Helik - fee
19. Bradshaw - fee
20. Mills - fee
21. Matos - loan

Interesting we haven’t signed a single player this season on free transfer.

Never any mention of a fee with Peart-Harris was there?

 

[billyturleyscurlywurly]

Never any mention of a fee with Peart-Harris was there?

Quick search suggested it was an undisclosed fee. Probably minimal considering he’s only on a deal till the end of the season. He was probably the standout signing in January considering he had a decent half a season on loan at Swansea where he got 3 goals and a few assists. Have to question just how much he’ll be in for the fight the longer this poor run goes on for with him knowing his future more than likely lies elsewhere come the summer.

 

[billyturleyscurlywurly]

Grim reading, particuarly last season's list.

Where are the sellable assets in that? BDK, Currie, McDonnell? Goodrham was on course to be a substantial transfer out of the club, we're talking between £5m and £8m, we gave him a new contract, banished him out the squad for Krastev and Dembele now he's out for the season and there's every chance he's back in L1 next season rated at £1m tops.

Kioso, El Miz, Sibley, Bradshaw all sitting on healthy wages and contributing nothing to us but for other clubs. Vaulks sitting cosily on a £10k a week for the next 18 months. Dembele the same. Phillips paid out of his healthy high wage contract. Romeny looking good on instagram but not the football pitch. The squad planning since our promotion has been absolutely criminal.

Currie we should probably double our money on.

McDonnell will be interesting to see if we can make a profit on the £1m to £1.5m fee we paid especially if he’s a League One midfielder next year.

BDK is an interesting one as it was a reported record transfer fee & whilst he’s had some very good games he’s also had some poor ones. Wonder if there would be any room to make any profit should we go down on him.

I suppose we may be able to make decent profit on Cumming possibly? Picked up on a free.

 

[ECYellow]

If you're going to only judge them by the outcome of a season, did they succeed last season then?

Preston are certainly comparable, but Millwall spend the kind of money on players we can only dream of. Coburn, Neghli, Taylor and Ivanovic have all been bought for much more than our record signing since we were promoted.

Looking at the list of 21 (TWENTY ONE!!) players that were signed before or during last season, and looking at who was/is a success story, i'd go as far as to say that last years success was probably more down to the excellent start and momentum under Des, and the stoic rearguard under Rowett over Christmas and during the run in.

10 of the 21 are no longer here, and and of those that are, Dembele and Romeny cost us over £1,000,000 each and HTA can't even make the 25 man squad. It's hardly a glowing reference of Ed & Scott's work, is it?

How many of the players listed have become key players for us? Nowhear near enough, i'd suggest.

The money we are currently spending to prop up other club's squad(s) with our surplus players out on loan is eye watering. Not to mention the significant investments that have not and continue to not pay back the fees invested in them, while warming our bench.

The more you look at it, the more case there is to not trust the current incumbents with the purse strings for this summer's rebuild, imo.

 

[tatabanya]

Looking at the list of 21 (TWENTY ONE!!) players that were signed before or during last season, and looking at who was/is a success story, i'd go as far as to say that last years success was probably more down to the excellent start and momentum under Des, and the stoic rearguard under Rowett over Christmas and during the run in.

10 of the 21 are no longer here, and and of those that are, Dembele and Romeny cost us over £1,000,000 each and HTA can't even make the 25 man squad. It's hardly a glowing reference of Ed & Scott's work, is it?

How many of the players listed have become key players for us? Nowhear near enough, i'd suggest.

The money we are currently spending to prop up other club's squad(s) with our surplus players out on loan is eye watering. Not to mention the significant investments that have not and continue to not pay back the fees invested in them, while warming our bench.

The more you look at it, the more case there is to not trust the current incumbents with the purse strings for this summer's rebuild, imo.

We'll go round in circles here so we aren't going agree on what fair expections are, but I don't understand why the Romeny signing is being used as a stick to beat Ed and Scott with given it had nothing to do with them.

 

[ECYellow]

We'll go round in circles here so we aren't going agree on what fair expections are, but I don't understand why the Romeny signing is being used as a stick to beat Ed and Scott with given it had nothing to do with them.

Ok, what about the other 35? Is it fair to judge their work based on those signings?

 

[tatabanya]

Ok, what about the other 35? Is it fair to judge their work based on those signings?

Yes. And in Currie, Spencer, Helik, BDK, Placheta, Lankshear and Mills there has been plenty of good, with promising signs with this window in Peart-Harris, McDonnell, Makosso and others. Obviously there is a long list of bad ones too, nobody would deny that, but as I've said about a thousand times that is inevitable if you're trying to sign Championship quality players on loans, frees or small fees for the level. That context is often completely missing when people talk about our business. People seem happy to accept that there was no money to spend of fees after Spencer, but somehow still expected us to smash the window. Why?

 

[billyturleyscurlywurly]

Yes. And in Currie, Spencer, Helik, BDK, Placheta, Lankshear and Mills there has been plenty of good, with promising signs with this window in Peart-Harris, McDonnell, Makosso and others. Obviously there is a long list of bad ones too, nobody would deny that, but as I've said about a thousand times that is inevitable if you're trying to sign Championship quality players on loans, frees or small fees for the level. That context is often completely missing when people talk about our business. People seem happy to accept that there was no money to spend of fees after Spencer, but somehow still expected us to smash the window. Why?

We made no free signings in the summer & none in January. Are you suggesting there weren’t any free agents of quality higher than the players we signed available in both windows?

Also just because they’re loan signings, doesn’t mean they have to be poor players. For example: could we have not got a better number 10 on loan rather than Luke Harris? Krastev? was there no loan strikers better available than Prelec?

 

[tatabanya]

We made no free signings in the summer & none in January. Are you suggesting there weren’t any free agents of quality higher than the players we signed available in both windows?

Also just because they’re loan signings, doesn’t mean they have to be poor players. For example: could we have not got a better number 10 on loan rather than Luke Harris? Krastev? was there no loan strikers better available than Prelec?

Free agents? Yes. There will he barely any free agents who are of the required quality, and those who are will have most of the league after them. I agree that our loans haven’t been good enough. Preston have shown that you can build half a team on good loans, but with no fees available in the summer we had to use loan slots to sign more senior players such as Prelec and Davies. Lankshear and Donley are the kind of loans to target. Everything comes back to the shambolic summer budget.

 

[billyturleyscurlywurly]

Free agents? Yes. There will he barely any free agents who are of the required quality, and those who are will have most of the league after them. I agree that our loans haven’t been good enough. Preston have shown that you can build half a team on good loans, but with no fees available in the summer we had to use loan slots to sign more senior players such as Prelec and Davies. Lankshear and Donley are the kind of loans to target. Everything comes back to the shambolic summer budget.

The summer budget didn’t change according to our own chairman & CEO. They said this at the fans forum which was in front of hundred of fans in person & thousands on YouTube..

 

[carefreeoufc]

I'd say I have been quite critical of our recruitment, but is it not correct to say that one of the challenges is not just the fees, it's that players (given an option between say QPR and us) don't want to come here? I don't know how accurate it is, but we have been linked with players that have opted to go to other clubs in the league.

Ok, most of the persuading will come down to wages, agent fees etc. but I'd imagine some players don't want to play for the perceived whipping boys of the Championship.

 

[tatabanya]

The summer budget didn’t change according to our own chairman & CEO. They said this at the fans forum which was in front of hundred of fans in person & thousands on YouTube..

That’s that then.

Unrelated but are you in the market for a bridge?

 

[LeftSideBoy]

The summer budget didn’t change according to our own chairman & CEO. They said this at the fans forum which was in front of hundred of fans in person & thousands on YouTube..

If you believe anything that comes out of the mouths of Tim Williams or Grant Ferguson then I've got some ancient woodland to sell you..

 

[WE Yellow]

I'd say I have been quite critical of our recruitment, but is it not correct to say that one of the challenges is not just the fees, it's that players (given an option between say QPR and us) don't want to come here? I don't know how accurate it is, but we have been linked with players that have opted to go to other clubs in the league.

Ok, most of the persuading will come down to wages, agent fees etc. but I'd imagine some players don't want to play for the perceived whipping boys of the Championship.

This is why a change of culture was so important in the summer. We stayed up, just about, due to our early season form and Rowett's bounce for the first month he was in, other than that it was no different to what this season has been so far. It helped that Plymouth and Cardiff were basket cases and that the wheels completely came off in Luton.

The warning signs were there, we weren't gonna get that lucky bounce two seasons in a row. Teams who finished around us last season all strengthened personnel, we sat tight and went with the same setup that apart from a couple of freak months would have been destined for the drop straight away.

A change of philosophy from management on and off the pitch was what was needed and it was staring us right in the face - we ignored the warning signs and are now trying to clean up the mess it left - but at least the 5 year plan is still in place, we got to the Championship a season or two earlier than what was planned, apparently..

 

[ECYellow]

If you believe anything that comes out of the mouths of Tim Williams or Grant Ferguson then I've got some ancient woodland to sell you..

So what we are saying then, is that our CFO and Chairman are not to be trusted with their word?

A damning statement for 2 of the 3 most senior people at the club, i'd have said. Hopefully the fanbase are taking note...

 

[Eric Blair]

Yes. And in Currie, Spencer, Helik, BDK, Placheta, Lankshear and Mills there has been plenty of good, with promising signs with this window in Peart-Harris, McDonnell, Makosso and others. Obviously there is a long list of bad ones too, nobody would deny that, but as I've said about a thousand times that is inevitable if you're trying to sign Championship quality players on loans, frees or small fees for the level. That context is often completely missing when people talk about our business. People seem happy to accept that there was no money to spend of fees after Spencer, but somehow still expected us to smash the window. Why?

It’s a fair point

 

[carefreeoufc]

So what we are saying then, is that our CFO and Chairman are not to be trusted with their word?

A damning statement for 2 of the 3 most senior people at the club, i'd have said. Hopefully the fanbase are taking note...

There was a thread on here during the last FAB meeting where I went in a little hard on Tim/Grant ("Patronising pair of c!nts", "Lying f*ckers" and so on). I got a bit of criticism, largely due to the vitriol, I suspect. I still maintain that they were lying/taking the p!ss out of the fan base. It's just the latest version of mushroom treatment we've had from various management teams over the years. They're no different to many of the footballers that will pass the OUFC training ground doors, completely in it for whatever they can get out of it. But that's football I guess.