Huddersfield Town January transfer window review

In a season of poor results and a clear lack of a goalscorer since the injury of Josh Koroma, it was vital Carlos Corberan was backed in this window.

This window has been anticipated as one of the biggest in the club’s recent history and fans were made jubilant with arguably the biggest signing of the year with Carlos Corberán extending his contract until the end of the 23/24 season as well as his backroom staff.

Following a spell of good results and the side sitting comfortably above the relegation zone, the board had given fans the message that the Spaniard was the one to take Huddersfield Town forward again. For most fans, this gave them hope that Corberán was to be backed somewhat this window in the market and allow him to invest in his squad for potentially the next three seasons.

Following a superb January for Huddersfield last season and a good summer window, there was only positive thinking for what incomings and outgoings needed to be finalised by the first of February.

It was clear where the side lacked either quality or a suitable backup, in case of further injuries which have plagued the West Yorkshire outlet so far this season.

Following the injuries in defence, it was vital that Corberán’s transfer team worked on another centre-half that was comfortable playing out from the back, once again due to injuries in midfield another midfielder was clearly needed but possibility most vitally, a striker.

This season has proved challenging for Huddersfield, on their day the side looks like play-off contenders but the lack of a clinical number nine has proved costly on many occasions now within this Sky Bet Championship season.

Josh Koroma has been injured for almost two months now and still in Huddersfield’s top scorer with six goals to Fraizer Campbell’s five. Only proving how desperate the side was for a goalscorer who consistently found the net.

 

Outgoings

Ben Hamer – Swansea City (Undisclosed)

 

With the 34-year-old’s contract ending in the summer and the emergence of the new first team ‘keeper, Ryan Schofield, this is a deal is one that makes a lot of sense, free up a Premier League signings wage and allow Huddersfield to get a fee instead of leaving on a free in the Summer.

Hamer’s distribution made him a vital part of Carlos Corberán’s plans due to the Englishman’s ability to play it out of the back whilst remaining composed.

Arriving as a backup to Jonas Lössl in the second season in the Premier League, Hamer never made a major impact in a Town shirt and was sent on loan to Derby following a disappointing end to the 2018/19 season which saw Huddersfield relegated.

Hamer had played 17 times in Blue and white this Season across all competitions and kept five clean sheets before his departure to south wales.

Rating 7/10 

 

Adama Diakhaby – Amiens SC (Undisclosed)

Once again a player signed in the Premier League whose contracts expired at the end of the season, Diakhaby never really hit the heights imagined he would do at the John Smith’s Stadium and failed to make any impact.

Signed from Monaco in the summer of 2018 for a fee of around £9 million, the Frenchman never made an impact in David Wagner’s side and failed to again under the following managers. Jan Siewert, Danny Cowley and Carlos Corberán. Making the question arise, what went wrong for Diakhaby?

Once hailed as the next Kylian Mbappe by Monaco after rumours sparked about the now world-class strikers potential move to Los Blancos. The winger only went on to make 46 appearances for the Terriers and became one of the most frustrating players at the club for fans due to his lack of creativity and contributions.

The move offers a restart for the player whilst once again allowing Huddersfield to somewhat cut their losses rather than lose the player on a free in Summer. For a player that wasn’t especially ‘loved’ by fans, on a high wage and not making any impact this was a brilliant sale for the club.

Rating 10/10 

 

Incomings

Danny Grant – Bohemians (Undisclosed)

 

The signing of Danny Grant was made two weeks before the opening of the window and the Irish side received a record fee for the U-21 capped winger, who won the PFAI Young Player of the Year award, having played 17 games for the side scoring seven in this time for the Bohs.

Grant was set to make his debut in the FA Cup against Plymouth Argyle but an injury prevented him from doing so meaning that Huddersfield fans are yet to see the next Republic of Ireland international in the blue and white of West Yorkshire.

Rating 7/10

 

Rolando Aarons – Newcastle United (Undisclosed)

A transfer that was everything but finalised in the summer and has had Huddersfield fans and staff alike waiting for their man. Owner Phillip Hodgkinson admitted that the winger was his and the club’s top target for the winter window after failing, in the latter stages of the window, to finalise the deal.

The winger has featured now five times for Town and has looked a real threat when taking the side forward. The number 16 is pacey, can drive with the ball and has the flair required to be a successful winger in the division. Aarons proved this with his role in the set-up for Huddersfield’s goal against Bristol City.

With the very possible departure of Isaac Mbenza in the summer when the Belgian’s contract expires and the injury to Josh Koroma, a winger with championship experience was a must and has proven his quality so far.

Rating 9/10

 

Sorba Thomas – Boreham Wood (Undisclosed)

Sorba Thomas is a player who many will hope will be the second coming of Josh Koroma and their route to the John Smith’s Stadium is almost a carbon copy, one of the non-leagues prized assets, can play anywhere across the front three and touch of flair and goal-scoring ability. The differences are uncanny.

Thomas has impressed in his time in the B-team so far and has made a few contributions. Originally signed as a project player to develop over time, his opportunity in the first team could come sooner than expected with Huddersfield’s failure to sign a striker in this window.

Rating 6/10

 

Richard Keogh – MK Dons (Undisclosed)

Richard Keogh was brought back to the club on a six month deal following the injuries that have plagued Huddersfield Town this season, across every position there has been at least one major injury.

Christopher Schindler, Rarmani Edmonds-Green and Richard Stearman have all been sidelined for parts of the season and it was vital the club got some extra experience within the defence to partner with Naby Sarr until the injury list somewhat clears.

Keogh was established as a defender who would be comfortable playing out from the back and is used to being in and around the play-off region an area Corberán wants his side to be too. Keogh has made a few appearances for Huddersfield so far and hasn’t made any major talking points but has seemed uncomfortable at times. Nonetheless, a necessary signing though it may be underwhelming.

Rating 5/10

 

Duane Holmes – Derby County (Undisclosed)

Following in Keogh’s footsteps to rejoin his former club, Holmes is a signing that gives much-needed depth in midfield and attack. Holmes is a player that never really left Huddersfield fans knowing what they had on their hands but the American has since matured and nurtured his game and at the age of 26 is approaching his ‘prime’ years.

The player is one that Carlos has had on his radar for a few years stretching back to his time at Leeds United, proving he’s a player that would be deemed fit for a higher-end championship club and offers hope and potential that Holmes will come good at the club he loves.

Rating 9/10

 

Jayson Leutwiler – Fleetwood (Free Transfer)

Leutwiler is a signing that is necessary, having most recently played for Fleetwood on a free transfer there isn’t too much to complain about. It gives good enough backup, low wages and experience for the younger ‘keepers following Ben Hamer’s departure.

Rating 5/10

 

Summary

In a window where the depth of the squad was essential to be improved on, the transfer team have done so and ticked the box. But, Alex Pritchard who is another player on a Premier League wage still remains at the club and will most likely leave on a free when the midfielder’s contract expires in the summer.

The obvious lack of a striker through the Canalside doors will be an issue for Huddersfield fans, linked with Elijah Adebayo from Wallsall, who later ended up at Luton (a side who offered a lower fee than Huddersfield but got their man) and at one point Lee Gregory who ended the window with Derby, Huddersfield fans can rightly be frustrated at why a striker didn’t arrive.

Does this potentially mean Josh Koroma is soon to return to the squad? Does it mean there is a free agent awaiting final confirmations? At the moment Huddersfield fans are in the dark and most will be worried.

There is a clear lack of a consistent goalscorer which needed addressing desperately and hasn’t been. The uncertainty is something that will definitely be mentioned before the clash against Luton this upcoming weekend in Carlos Corberán’s pre-match press conference.

 

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