After a rough start to the season, Argyle currently sit 21st in the EFL Championship after playing 18 games, winning only four, drawing five and losing nine. This makes the January transfer window crucial as Argyle will look to bolster their squad, so that they can hopefully remain in the Championship come the end of the season. With new investors potentially coming to Argyle, it is still not known how much the Greens has to spend in the January transfer window.
The first player that the Pilgrims should be identifying is an attacker who is clinical in front of goal. Louie Barry could be the ideal candidate, with Aston Villa rumoured to recall Barry from Stockport County in January. Villa is believed to want to give Barry experience at a higher level, and the Championship could be the perfect place to develop. Barry has already scored 13 goals in League One and is currently the highest-scoring player in the division. With no return date for Cissoko, Barry could fit perfectly into that left wing position that Argyle has been crucially missing since his injury and provide a real attacking threat.
Argyle has struggled with injuries in defence this season, losing Brendan Galloway, Kornel Szucs and Lewis Gibson. Not to mention that on top of that, Argyle has the greatest number of goals conceded in the Championship this season with thirty-eight, showing that a centre back is needed. Ronnie Edwards is an ideal candidate to bring in on loan in January from Southampton, with lots of championship clubs sniffing around. Although Edwards hasn’t made an appearance for Southampton this season, he had a successful period at the Posh, playing 45 games in League One and helping Peterborough win the EFL trophy. The Medium did a scout report for Edwards, awarding him an 8.5 out of 10. They said that, “Ronnie Edwards is a well-composed, modern-day CB that understands how to defend but also how to execute a pass.” This is a perfect player for Rooney, as he likes to build up from the back and execute successful passes to the midfield. The scout also said that, “For a 20-year-old player, he looked very mature in the way he organised his team, providing instructions throughout the game and encouraging his teammates to get over the line.” Argyle has been missing a vocal defender since the departure of Dan Scarr, bringing much needed leadership to the team.
Last but not least, the Greens need to bring in a defensive midfielder in January due to the lack of depth in the squad. Adam Forshaw and Jordan Houghton are the only real options Argyle have at the club, and with neither of them currently playing at Championship standard, it’s vital that the club brings reinforcements in January. Argyle should look at Fredrik Hammar, the 23-year-old who currently plays for the Swedish first-tier team Hammarby IF. He is currently valued at £746,028.00, which is well within the Pilgrims budget. Hammer is a player that would bring aerial ability to the team, as he is amongst the best at aerial duels won in the Swedish League. Hammer is also well-disciplined, having received only 4 yellow cards in 24 games and having no red cards, showing that he can keep his head in the game and stay composed.
So keep an eye on Plymouth Argyle in the January transfer window because the Greens will be one of the most active clubs in the Championship if they want to survive relegation come the end of the season.