Santa has made his rounds for another year, but top executives have at least one more request for the January sales.
It’s Christmas Day and while all the gifts are being unwrapped the minds of bosses across the Scottish Premiership will quickly start wandering to the January sales.
We’re in the midst of a packed festive fixture card with just two games remaining for each club to round off 2023 and with the midway point managers will know what they want to kickstart the New Year on a high note. The transfer deals are set to dominate the next months whether it is in the battle between the top two as Rangers and Celtic fight for the title or at the bottom with Motherwell, Livingston, Ross County and St Johnstone all fighting to avoid playing Championship football in 2024.
It’s a tight division with only a hand full of points between the sides – meaning just one win or one defeat could see clubs propelled to top six fight or into the relegation dogfight. That is where transfer deals can be key. So where will the Premiership bosses look to add? Record Sport takes a look.
Aberdeen
While many bosses across the Premiership are looking to add – Barry Robson will be looking to trim down the size of his squad next month. One man he won’t want to see leave is Bojan Miovski – having made it clear to the Pittodrie board that he wants to keep the talisman for the remainder of the campaign. But will he get his Xmas wish or will a big money offer dampen Robson’s holiday cheer?
Christmas wish: Keep Bojan Miovski
Celtic
Brendan Rodgers has stated his desire to add “quality” in the January window – and it will definitely be needed up front with Kyogo Furuhashi and Oh Hyeon-gyu set to jet off to the Asian Cup. Sydney van Hooijdonk, Mathias Kvistgaarden and Fabio Silva have all been floated as targets and the Parkhead boss will hope to do some quick business to add to his frontline before his key attacking duo jet off.
Christmas wish: Striker
Dundee
Tony Docherty will hope that Liverpool are in the festive spirit and don’t trigger a recall clause in Owen Beck’s contract. The 21-year-old has been a standout at Dens Park but after his call-up the Wales squad the Anfield giants could look to move the left-back on loan elsewhere. That would leave Dundee short in that area and in need of recruits.
Christmas wish: Left-back
Lawrence Shankland scores to make it 1-0 Hearts
Hearts
Before any new faces arrive, all Steven Naismith wants to see under his tree is Lawrence Shankland. Without their captain’s goals, Hearts would be struggling big time and they are likely to reject any January offers unless they, as CEO Andrew McKinlay said, “exceptional,” and only then would they consider selling. Right back is an area that’s light, while a more dynamic midfielder wouldn’t go amiss.
Christmas wish: Keeping Lawrence Shankland
Hibs
Nick Montgomery has had to make do with Lee Johnson’s players since taking the reins. Kevin Nisbet’s goals haven’t really been replaced, despite Johnson shelling out £700k on Dylan Vente, who looks a smart acquisition but isn’t matching Nisbet’s numbers. Dylan Levitt as a holding midfielder isn’t getting the best out of him, so a No 6 would allow Hibs to shake it up a bit in the middle of the park. An alternative to Lewis Miller at right back would be useful as well.
Christmas wish: Defensive midfielder
Kilmarnock
Derek McInnes has openly stated that he doesn’t expect much business at Rugby Park next month – with just one exception. The boss has been keen to land a new frontman since the summer and that desire has carried on into winter window. While January is a tough window adding another attacking options will be the dream scenario for McInnes.
Christmas wish: Striker
Livingston
If there is a team that needs a striker it’s Livingston. David Martindale’s men face a battle for survival after a lacklustre campaign so far. Many of their problems have been rooted in failing to find the net with the club among the lowest scorers in the top flight this term. He won’t have a massive budget but Martindale will hope Santa can whip up a Christmas surprise for the Lions.
Christmas wish: Striker
Motherwell
Stuart Kettlewell has failed to fill the Kevin van Veen shaped void in his team that has remained since the summer. Mika Biereth, Jon Obika, Connor Wilkinson and Oli Shaw have all been tried up front but it could be back to the drawing board for the Steelmen as they look to fire their way out of trouble.
Christmas wish: Striker
Rangers’ Borna Barisic tries to get away from Aris Limassol’s Karol Struski
Rangers
Where to start for Philippe Clement? While he has problems up front with injury woes facing Danilo and Kemar Roofe, with the cash splurged in the summer on the frontline by his predecessor Michael Beale the Belgian may look elsewhere. Borna Barisic is out of contract in the summer and with Ridvan Yilmaz failing to displace the Croat since his arrival Clement will hope a left-back is in the back of Santa’s sleigh.
Christmas wish: Left-back
Ross County
Ross County have found the creative spark hard to come by this term with a revolving door of options pushed into the midfield engine room to try and bring about an upturn in fortunes. When Yan Dhanda isn’t in top form the Staggies look out of ideas at times – and Derek Adams will look to change that. He will likely turn his attention to his favoured market in the English lower leagues.
Christmas wish: Playmaker
St Mirren
St Mirren have punched above their weight this term as they look to secure a second consecutive top six finish. But injuries are beginning to take their toll and with right-back Ryan Strain set for a lengthy layoff Stephen Robinson will hope for some extra cash in his Christmas card from the Paisley board to strengthen his backline.
Christmas wish: Right-back
St Johnstone
A new frontman appears to the fashionable toy this Christmas with Craig Levein joining a host of rival bosses in looking to add more firepower to his side. Nicky Clark and Chris Kane have been hampered by injury woes this term and the veteran boss has made adding up-front his January priority.
Christmas wish: Striker
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