Five potential January transfer targets for Cambridge United

While Cambridge United have enjoyed a fine start to life in League One, it is clear that they are in need of January reinforcements.

The U’s will enter 2022 in 17th place, having performed above all expectations so far this season. Mark Bonner has favoured working with a small, tight-knit squad since taking over as head coach in March 2020, but there are clear gaps in certain areas that need addressing.

The highest priority has to be in defence, where Cambridge have been especially threadbare in recent weeks. A long-term injury to club captain Greg Taylor and a groin injury to Lloyd Jones has left the U’s light at the back, and the poor form of Queens Park Rangers loanee Conor Masterson has seen left-back Jack Iredale partnering 21-year-old Jubril Okedina in the heart of defence.

There is also no suitable cover for starting right-back George Williams, with Leon Davies on loan at National League side Weymouth ahead of his contract expiration at the end of the campaign.

Elsewhere, the U’s could do with additional reinforcements out wide and up front, albeit that they probably have enough quality and depth in these areas.

Here are five players that Cambridge could look to sign in the January transfer window.

Robbie Cundy – Bristol City

Cambridge fans will be familiar with Robbie Cundy. The 24-year-old was immense in his loan spell at the club last season, but his impressive performances saw him recalled in January and loaned out to League One side Gillingham.

Cundy impressed in the third tier, making 18 appearances and scoring once as the Gills secured a 10th place finish. With the U’s having won promotion from League Two, there is no reason as to why he could not return on a permanent basis.

The 6’2 centre-back has failed to make a single appearance for Bristol City since joining them in 2019, and with his contract expiring at the end of this season, the Robins may look to cash in on him in the January transfer window.

A return to The Abbey would make sense, but there may be a couple of issues. Firstly, it remains to be seen what funds Cambridge have available to use in the upcoming transfer window, so signing a player on a permanent basis may be a struggle.

Secondly, Cundy is a tall, physical, right-footed centre-back, just like Jones. With the Liverpool academy graduate returning from injury in the near future, a move would depend on whether they could coexist in the same lineup.

While the U’s might not make a move for him in January, it would not be a major surprise to see him back at the club at some point. One thing is for certain, his future is certainly not at Bristol City.

Rocky Bushiri – Norwich City U23’s

Rocky Bushiri is an unfamiliar name to most, having only made seven senior appearances in English football since moving to the country in 2019. The Belgian joined Norwich City’s U23 squad before moving on loan to then League One side Blackpool where his stint was curtailed after only making four league appearances, before returning to his homeland with Sint-Truiden until the end of the 2019/20 season.

The 22-year-old has had two further loan spells in Belgium, joining Mechelen and KAS Eupen, but has struggled after contracting Covid-19 and a suffering meniscus injury back in March that required surgery. At the time of writing, he is still playing with the Canaries’ U23 squad, but Dean Smith could potentially bring him into the first team due to a plethora of injuries and Covid-19 cases.

In an interview with Belgian news outlet Walfoot.be, Bushiri has stated that he wants to work his way into Norwich’s first team, but would not be against returning to the Belgian top flight. His main aim for 2022, however, is to get more game time. That is exactly what Cambridge could provide.

At 22 years of age, Norwich may have aspirations for him to play at a higher level, having already played at League One before, albeit very briefly, and having featured for four different Belgian top-flight clubs in his career. He may be more suited to Championship football, or at least a higher level in League One, but the U’s proximity to Norfolk could tempt the Canaries into making a loan move happen.

He would certainly get regular game time at The Abbey, which would help him to rebuild his fitness levels and fight for a place in the senior squad upon returning to Carrow Road at the end of the season, especially if Norwich have been relegated from the Premier League.

This one might seem a bit far fetched, but nothing is impossible. Bushiri would be a real coup for the U’s, even if only on loan until the end of the campaign.

Marcel Lavinier – Tottenham Hotspur U23’s

At 21-years-old, Marcel Lavinier has only played 16 minutes of senior football and despite having a glittering youth career, it is clear that he needs to take the next step.

Lavinier started in Chelsea’s academy before he was released, joining Spurs in 2020. He has also featured for England at U16’s and U17’s. José Mourinho gave him his initial taste of first-team football, but he has since struggled to break into the senior squad under Nuno Espírito Santo or Antonio Conte.

While the defender has featured for Spurs U23’s in the Papa John’s Trophy this season, he was an unused substitute for his side’s 1-0 defeat against the U’s at The Abbey back in September.

The Daily Mail describes Laviner as “primarily a right-back” who is “able to play anywhere across the back four”. He “loves to get forward and is very direct”, “does not mind getting stuck into a tackle” and has “considerable technique.”

This would make him a perfect target for the U’s, primarily because of his versatility. Being able to cover any position across the defence would help earn game time at The Abbey, but most importantly he could provide cover to starting right-back Williams.

Cambridge have a strong working relationship with Spurs, having loaned and then permanently signed former U23s captain Okedina. This could provide a platform to acquire Lavinier’s services until the end of the season.

Louie Barry – Aston Villa (on loan at Ipswich Town)

Louie Barry’s youth career is that of a superstar. The attacker started off at West Bromwich Albion, before signing for FC Barcelona, becoming the first English player to join La Masia. He won the División de Honor Juvenil with the Catalans in 2019/20 before moving to Aston Villa for £880,000.

He made one appearance for the Villans so far, scoring in a 4-1 defeat against Liverpool in the FA Cup in January 2021. Jürgen Klopp went on to refer to him as a “little Jamie Vardy”, and it soon became clear that he needed to play regular football.

A loan to Ipswich Town would follow, but the 18-year-old has played just 68 minutes of League One football since moving to Portman Road. BirminghamLive confirmed that he is in talks with new Tractor Boys boss Kieran McKenna about cutting his loan move short.

However, his talent is undeniable. Unfortunately for him, the quality that Ipswich possess in attack has made it difficult for Barry to force his way into the starting lineup. While a move to League Two side Swindon Town has been heavily rumoured, Villa boss Steven Gerrard may be keen for Barry to continue in the third tier.

Cambridge are not lacking quality in attack, with Joe Ironside one of the top scorers in the entire division with 11 goals in 23 games. However, a lack of alternatives to the 28-year-old target man is somewhat problematic. Sam Smith, a natural striker, has changed position to become a starting winger for the U’s, while Harvey Knibbs’ underwhelming goalscoring record is a concern in terms of deputising for Ironside.

Barry offers something different. He isn’t a target man, instead, he prefers the ball played into feet and possesses pace and trickery. Able to operate in wide areas, his versatility would be vital with Cambridge having struggled due to Shilow Tracey’s injury and James Brophy’s inconsistent form.

A loan move would certainly work for Cambridge, and the proximity to Portman Road would help the transition between clubs, but Bonner would likely be unable to guarantee first-team football for Barry. As a result, Gerrard may look elsewhere to loan out the young attacker.

Gassan Ahadme – Norwich City (on loan at Portsmouth)

Much like Barry, Gassan Ahadme is a player at a Premier League academy who has struggled for minutes on loan at a top League One side.

In this case, the parent club is again Norwich City, with Ahadme on loan at Portsmouth. After an incredible run of goalscoring form on trial with Danny Cowley’s side in pre-season, the 21-year-old made the loan move official in July 2021. Since then, however, he has made just nine appearances for Pompey, with only five coming in the league. Danny Cowley is clearly not as keen on the striker as he was five months ago.

Therefore, It is no surprise that Norwich are set to recall the Moroccan youth international, but it seems unlikely that he will force his way into the Canaries senior squad this season. As a result, he is likely to be heading out on loan again for the remainder of the campaign.

As previously mentioned, Cambridge are lacking a suitable alternative to Ironside. Ahadme would certainly offer that, as he can play both up front and just off the striker. As with Bushiri, Cambridge’s proximity to Norfolk could help, allowing the Canaries to easily keep an eye on his progress at The Abbey.

But much like signing Barry, Bonner would struggle to promise a loanee attacker regular game time in the current squad. Furthermore, Ahadme’s poor record in League One indicates that he may need to play further down the football pyramid before returning to the third tier.

Whilst signing an attacker on loan would be a nice idea, the U’s simply have too much quality in the final third of the pitch. The focus for January will more than likely be solely on defenders.

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