Manager looks to extend loans and strengthen the squad
With the New Year upon us this means that the transfer window is now open and a number of the loan players currently with Town deals are up.
As GT mentioned after the Oldham win Gozie Ugwu’s loan from Reading won’t be extended and Nicky Wroe’s current deal isn’t up until near the end of January.
This leaves Adam Reach, Tom Eaves and Cameron Gayle to clear up and GT covered this in his prematch talk to the press this morning:”There is a bit of uncertainty which you would expect at this stage of the proceedings.
“Adam Reach has returned to Middlesbrough and with a new manager in place he wants to go and meet him and have a few days with them to see what their plans are.
“It’s not outside the realms of possibility that he could be with us again very shortly but that is only a possibility.
“I can understand Adam’s motives to go back to Boro and see how the land lies there, he’s done well for us and I’d like to see him sign back here.
“Tom Eaves and Cameron Gayle expire on Saturday so we need to be talking to them and their clubs and resolve what is going to happen with them.”
Connor Goldson is currently on loan at Cheltenham Town while Asa Hall’s deal with Oxford United has expired. GT is keeping tabs on Connor but is surprised he hasn’t heard from Oxford about extended Asa’s stay at the club:”Connor Goldson is eligible to play for Cheltenham this week so there is no problem there for Connor, I’m planning to go and watch the game against Chesterfield which will be a good test for him.
“Connor is very much in my plans for the future and he has the ingredients to become a very decent player and I think it’s been invaluable to get some league football under his belt.
“If the way is clear to let him stay at Cheltenham then there would be an instant recall in place and we could bring him back straight away.
“Asa Hall I’ve heard nothing from Oxford and his loan has expired so he is back with us and is available for transfer.
“I don’t think Asa has fitted into what I want to do here, he’s ha half a season with Oxford and from reports he has done very well there. They are flying high in the league and in the FA Cup tomorrow and I’ve been somewhat surprised that there haven’t been any moves to extend the move.”
With the transfer window now open again it gives the manager the opportunity to strengthen his side for the second half of the SKY Bet League 1 campaign. He has a number of targets in mind as well as extending the recent loan players but would also like to make a few permanent deals during January:”During the January transfer window the ideal scenario for me would be to add a few more permanent signings.
“That is not always easy and we have to make sure we take the best we can and strengthen the side that way.
“It will be a busy time over the next couple of weeks on that front and as there have been some enquiries about a couple of our players we will have to look at that.
“I’ve had my chief scout in today and we are going though the possibles and the plans and will then take it from there.
“The work has been going on for a while to change it a little bit and hopefully bring in a few permanent signings, it’s a little tougher at this time as you might have to prise the better players away with transfer fees but there is money available if the right player is available.”