Don’t want too big a squad – Port Vale manager explains January transfer window tactics
Port Vale manager John Askey says he will attempt to balance the numbers if he brings new players into the squad in January.
The Valiants have a far more balanced squad this season but there is potentially still room to strengthen in, for example, the left-back position where Adam Crookes is injured and winger Cristian Montano filling in. However, despite the club’s recent good form, Askey will not break the bank in the New Year with caution being the byword.
While the Valiants will not have a vast pot of money to spend – even the likes of loanee Jake Taylor, brought in from Nottingham Forest is unlikely to be on Championship wages, there is likely to be some money for new signings after a decent Football League Trophy cup run.
You have to be sensible as well and you don’t want too big a squad. It might be a case of trying to get one or two out on loan to enable us to bring other people in…
Askey says they will look at potential new signings telling a midweek press conference: “We are always looking. We are keeping an eye open what players are about because you always want to improve. You need a good squad if you want to achieve something, so if there is anybody we feel can improve us, then we will be looking to try to do something.”
However, he suggested that it would be a one-in, one-out policy with the squad adding: “You have to be sensible as well and you don’t want too big a squad. It might be a case of trying to get one or two out on loan to enable us to bring other people in. So, you are just trying to balance the books and be sensible as well. There might be a little bit of money available but there are other ways to do it as well.”
Potential candidates to go out on loan would include central defender Kieran Kennedy and midfielder Dan Trickett-Smith, who has recently returned from a loan spell. Both players have struggled to break into the starting eleven and could potentially benefit from regular first-team football elsewhere to press their case.
Vale will surely look to extend the loan spell of the impressive Taylor – who has forged a regular starting place and chipped in with valuable goals since joining on a half-season loan from Forest.