Ins & Outs January 2026

[MancFox24]

9 hours ago, ClaphamFox said:

We absolutely needed to strengthen the defence. Whether Lascelles stays fit enough to do that is a different matter, but signing a centre half was logical. 

We needed to strengthen in all areas, but with limited resources you have to prioritise. I don't rate any of our 3 centre backs that highly but left back, right back, defensive midfield and striker were much bigger priorities in this window

[Terraloon]

2 hours ago, Claudio Fannieri said:

If the 3 outstanding deal go through then it’s pleasing to see us move forward a slightly different profile of player, for the last few seasons I have felt we have lacked physicality as a side, it’s no coincidence this has manifested itself to a point where our running stats and duels won is so poor and we concede so many soft goals, we are so easy to play against both in and out of possession and in open play and set pieces. 
 

Adding some much needed physicality will hopefully help start to turn the tide. 

When I saw that there was a deal in place to sign Lascelles I thought fair enough but having looked at his personal situation, including contract and injuries then sorry I am far from sure.

 

Sadly he had a ACL injury which meant in seasons 24/25 and season 25/26 he has played a grand total of 19 minutes . Most of this season, the last of his contract, he has been injured and there are rumblings that he failed his medical .

 

If Newcastle are allowing him to come for free then there is little risk but sorry his injury record alone puts into question his ability to hit the ground running.

 

The two youngsters on loan will have no experience of fighting for survival and both will know that they will go back to their parent clubs . That may work in LC favour but its experience and guile that’s needed and that brings me on to Aribo yes he has experience, yes he is fit but is he going to provide a step up in terms of skill set ?
 

The reality for me is that the transfers are probably going to cost little to nothing at a time when the squad is crying out for competent, fit experienced players but  for a variety of reasons the window really doesn’t tick any boxes for me.

 

More a worry come seasons end even if relegation is avoided this will be the sort of market the club now trades

Edited 3 February by Terraloon

[CornwallFox]

No striker or left back is a dereliction of duty

[ClaphamFox]

23 minutes ago, CornwallFox said:

No striker or left back is a dereliction of duty

Presumably one of Richards or Mukasa will be playing as striker. 

Edited 3 February by ClaphamFox

[brookfox]

19 minutes ago, CornwallFox said:

No striker or left back is a dereliction of duty

Given we have Thomas, VK and Aluko at LB we literally don’t have room in the squad for more. You’d assume if VK was fit he’d have been sold but this isn’t Championship Manager when we can sign another and put one of those in the reserves.

 

And we signed 2 players, albeit unproven, who can play as a striker.

[MancFox24]

10 minutes ago, brookfox said:

Given we have Thomas, VK and Aluko at LB we literally don’t have room in the squad for more. You’d assume if VK was fit he’d have been sold but this isn’t Championship Manager when we can sign another and put one of those in the reserves.

 

And we signed 2 players, albeit unproven, who can play as a striker.

You can make up the squad however you want, there isn't a limit of on the amount of players you can have in one position. We cleared room in the squad by getting rid of Carranza, Faes and Soumare, so you replace them in positions that are the biggest problem areas in your team. Admittedly we've got loads of problem areas, but when teams are consistently targeting your left back, you have to make that your priority. 

[sphericalfox]

We had a teamful of right backs under Holloway, that never done us any harm. 👀

[Pita]

1 hour ago, CornwallFox said:

No striker or left back is a dereliction of duty

Obviously Rudkin never read the memo of what is needed

[Edingleyfox]

It looks like at least one of the loan signings is a striker but neither of them have scored a premier league goal or featured much at all. Cannot believe nobody with a proven goal scoring record has been signed even Derby have taken Szmodics on loan. If he was too expensive why have we signed Southamptons top earner? 

[teblin]

1 minute ago, Edingleyfox said:

It looks like at least one of the loan signings is a striker but neither of them have scored a premier league goal or featured much at all. Cannot believe nobody with a proven goal scoring record has been signed even Derby have taken Szmodics on loan. If he was too expensive why have we signed Southamptons top earner? 

Szmodics knew the manager already did he not at Derby?

[jammie82uk]

8 minutes ago, teblin said:

Szmodics knew the manager already did he not at Derby?

Yeah there is quite the Blackburn reunion going on at Derby as there is several ex Blackburn players already there as well as the ex manager 

[Edingleyfox]

1 minute ago, teblin said:

Szmodics knew the manager already did he not at Derby?

Fair enough that was just an example. Just feels like we have been kicking the can down the road with strikers never prioritising it year on year and this is the worst situation I can remember.

[oxford blue]

2 hours ago, Terraloon said:

If Newcastle are allowing him to come for free then there is little risk but sorry his injury record alone puts into question his ability to hit the ground running.

I agree with second part of sentence, but there is a large risk: we pay high wages on a 2 year contract for him to keep others company in the treatment room. 

[hinkfox21]

Don't think this window has been good at all. When you look at the names of the people we signed, they were good 2/3 years ago. Not anymore. 

[davieG]

Jamaal Lascelles - Newcastle United on loan until the end of the current season, subject to league approval - OS

[davieG]

Divine Mukasa - Manchester City on loan until the end of the current season, subject to league approval - OS

[cat lady]

You've got to admire the transfers that have agreed to come and play for us knowing all the problems  we've got.  

[davieG]

Dujuan Richards - Chelsea on loan until the end of the season, subject to league approval - OS

[AyewJoking]

On 02/02/2026 at 22:14, MPH said:

Looking forward to all the signings being revealed together… we see some shadowy figures walking towards the camera. When close we realize it’s the Teenage Mutant Hero Turtles. They take their masks off one by one to reveal who they are..

As if Mbappe would come here

[Mike Oxlong]