Is this Port Vale’s January transfer window checklist?
Rob Fielding suggests four areas that the club could concentrate on during the transfer window.
Rob Fielding writes…
The Valiants have made a more than decent start to their League One campaign and some good transfer window business could even see them improving on their current standing. Vale have shown the depth of their squad this season and their first priority would surely be to hold on to their key players. If that can be achieved then here are four crucial aspects of the window for the club to consider.
The worse possible conclusion for Vale would be a late recall for Stevens in January leaving the club with limited time to provide Aidan Stone with competition…
Ensure there is goalkeeping cover
The goalkeeping situation at Vale Park in recent years has been one of the few areas to cause concern. Firstly, we had the erratic form of Lucas Covolan, unimpressive loanee Tomas Holy and Aidan Stone’s inexperience showing at time. The inability to add a permanent signing this summer could damage the club in the New Year. Jack Stevens has generally impressed but the worry is that he’s not Vale’s player and Oxford Utd manager Karl Robinson has said he will consider whether the loan should continue in January.
The worse possible conclusion for Vale would be a late recall for Stevens in January leaving the club with limited time to provide Aidan Stone with competition. It’s a tricky situation as Vale probably can’t act until they know Oxford’s intentions as they can’t really afford to have three keepers on their books.
If Stevens departs, are there any experienced keepers available in January window within Vale’s budget? If Stevens departs late on then one intriguing option could be the recall of Lucas Covolan. His Vale career seemed over when he moved to Chesterfield on loan but he’s now lost his place through injury. If no other keepers could be found and Stevens’ departure leaves Vale in a hole could Covolan return to Vale Park as cover perhaps? Doubtless, some fans will not think that is a good idea.
The goalkeeping situation is certainly a tricky one to resolve but it’s probably one that will be near the top of the list of concerns during the window.
Make a bid for Butterworth?
One of the common complaints when a loanee like Dan Butterworth impresses is that the player isn’t really Port Vale’s. Well, as I’ve pointed out in a previous post, there is a chance that the Valiants could change that in the case of Dan Butterworth. He’s 23 and in search of regular football, without a squad number at his parent club and out of contract in the summer.
Is it worth the Vale sounding out Blackburn Rovers to see if a mutual termination of his current deal and a move to Burslem may be possible in January? A move now, while he’s at the club may be better than waiting to the summer when an out of contract Buterworth may prompt a bidding war with other interested parties.
Where to strengthen?
To me, the obvious answer to this question is – upfront. Vale have a good selection of “number tens” – Dan Butterworth, Rory Holden and Dennis Politic to name just three. However, in terms of “strikers” they have four – Ellis Harrison, the inexperienced Mipu Odubeko and injury-prone duo James Wilson and Jamie Proctor. It’s another addition to that striking position that could arguably benefit the club the most.
The Valiants are in the top-half of the table and have shown they fear no-one in this division. A forward with the ability to find the net can change games – even those when Vale aren’t doing so well. Darrell Clarke’s side have looked short upfront when Wilson and Harrison are missing and another quality addition would add competition as well as allowing the Vale to rest or rotate their first-choice pairing.
It’s certainly a huge ask as quality forwards don’t come easy in the January window. However, add another top-class striker to the mix and who knows where the club could finish this season?
Trim the squad?
Following the end of Thierry Small’s loan spell, Darrell Clarke suggested that Vale’s squad could be trimmed in the New Year. The Sentinel commented at the time that Clarke is considering going into the second half of the season with a smaller squad. If so, where can cuts be made? Well, no-one has looked poor this season, to be fair, Vale’s squad has been one of the strongest in years. However, there are still players who are lacking minutes and could potentially move on.
For instance, Harry Charsley has barely featured in midfield and may want more regular minutes? Could Liam McCarron also seek more gametime at another club? Would a loan spell and regular football benefit Tommy McDermott and Derek Agyakwa?
AGREE OR DISAGREE? – CLICK HERE TO POST A COMMENT