Stoke City are looking to add a goal threat in the last few days of the transfer window and a lot of their Championship rivals are in the same boat
12:32, 20 Jan 2026Updated 13:05, 20 Jan 2026
David Datro Fofana, Jesurun Rak-Sakyi and Jeremy Sarmiento have been linked with January moves to the Championship.(Image: Getty)
Stoke City are far from the only club in the Championship who are looking for quality in the final third to bring in during the final fortnight of the transfer window.
Most clubs in the division seem to be fighting over a small pool of available options. There are a few names which are being recycled up and down the country as potential targets, from Joel Piroe and David Datro Fofana, Bailey Cadamarteri to Jesurun Rak-Sakyi and Jeremy Sarmiento.
There are not many managers with war chests to tap into although Norwich could try to buy their way out of a relegation scrap and have been linked with an eye-catching £6 million move for Bodo/Glimt forward Kasper Hogh.
Promotion-chasing Ipswich are being linked with Bristol City top scorer Anis Mehmeti, Leicester want Ibrahim Diabate from GAIS and Birmingham have landed Djurgarden front man August Priske, also costing £6m.
With the clock ticking towards deadline day on February 2, we take a look around the division and each club’s situation on the forward front.
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Coventry City
Frank Lampard has signed two wide forwards on loan this month in Yang Min-hyoek and Romain Esse and welcomed Brandon Thomas-Asante back from injury at the weekend.
They were scoring for fun at the start of the season but Haji Wright had gone 15 matches without a goal before Saturday and had faced criticism from fans for his work rate off the ball. Still, that was his ninth league goal of the season and Ellis Simms has 10 and Thomas-Asante 10.
Lampard has ruled out adding more bodies to his strike department in the final chapter of this window.
Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough are moving on to other options in their bid to strengthen their forward ranks this month, with attempts to sign Jeremy Sarmiento from Brighton reaching an impasse, reports TeessideLive.
Sarmiento, who is currently struggling for game time on loan at Cremonese, was understood to be really keen on the move to Boro. There are suggestions that other Championship clubs are interested too.
Morgan Whittaker is 10-goal top scorer, way ahead of next best David Strelec, the Slovakia international and summer signing who has just three along with Tommy Conway and Hayden Hackney.
There have been links with Leeds’ fringe man Joel Piroe, who told Voetbal International recently: “Honestly, (an exit from Leeds) is not on the cards right now. You never know, what if an opportunity arises that you can’t say no to? But personally, I’m not really keen on making a move this winter. Especially because the season is still relatively short and there’s little time to adapt elsewhere. That would be very difficult, I think.”
Ipswich Town
Deep-pocketed Ipswich have been linked with West Ham forward Callum Wilson and Bristol City playmaker Anis Mehmeti.
A striker is believed to be at the top of their transfer agenda, with wide players Jaden Philogene (nine goals) and Jack Clarke (eight) leading the scoring charts so far this season. George Hirst has six while Ivan Azon only has two.
Millwall
Alex Neil has been linked with interest in Sheffield Wednesday’s Bailey Cadamarteri but Josh Coburn is back fit after a three-month injury lay-off and their focus seems to be on additions at right-back and in midfield. Winger Femi Azeez is top scorer with seven goals.
Anis Mehmeti celebrates with his Bristol City teammates after scoring against Portsmouth(Image: Photo by Simon Galloway/Getty Images)
Hull City
A surprise loan swoop for Bristol City winger Yu Hirakawa, particularly because Hull aren’t allowed to offer any kind of loan fee due to their breach of rules last season. Hull made the move after Mo Belloumi was ruled out for a large chunk of the season with a hamstring injury.
Dean Holden told HullLive: “Very happy to be able to get him in, he comes with glowing reports from the guys down in Bristol that we’ve spoken to, I think his quality is there for all to see, very good technically.
“He’s a very good set-piece taker. For a wide player, he’ll want to run in behind as well, which I think is really important to the way that we play. He brings a huge amount of energy and aggression on the pitch as well, so, for us, I think he’ll be a great addition.”
Joe Gelhardt, on loan from Leeds, is top scorer with 10 goals while Oli McBurnie has nine.
Preston North End
Paul Heckingbottom signed Michael Smith (free), Daniel Jebbison (loan) and Lewis Dobbin (loan) for his forward department and the manager wants more options to sustain a play-off push.
Milutin Osmajic is back from a nine-game ban for “a proven breach of racial abuse”.
Heckinbottom told the Lancashire Post: “Top end of the Championship, when you’re competing, we need reliability. That’s another reason I want other options at the top end of the pitch. It’s a big ask for anyone to be doing that, a big ask.
“Whereas if you can freshen it up and all of a sudden take that pressure off, these young players with good attributes – just let them go on and express themselves as impact, then you arguably get better performances out of your XI on the pitch. So the reason I want more firepower at the top is to help with those players who are already there as well.”
Dobbin is top scorer with six goals while Alfie Devine, Daniel Jebbison and Osmajic have five.
Stoke City
Five strikers have been ruled out with serious injury inside the last month. Robert Bozenik (shoulder), Sam Gallagher (hamstring), Divin Mubama (leg), Nathan Lowe (leg) and Emre Tezgel (ankle) are all stuck in the treatment room to leave Mark Robins reassessing the priorities for this window.
Stoke already wanted a wide player to add competition to Sorba Thomas, Million Manhoef and Lamine Cisse and they might now try to bring in two forwards who can play in the middle. It remains to be seen how quickly goal-scoring midfielder Lewis Baker can get fit after heel surgery too.
“(Finding a forward) is something I know we are actively trying to do,” said an emotional Robins shortly after Mubama was taken to hospital on Saturday. “It’s not easy. This isn’t easy and it becomes even more difficult for a number of reasons. We’ve got to stay positive.”
Summer signing Sorba Thomas is top scorer with nine goals from the left wing while Mubama and Manhoef have five and Baker four.
Watford
Watford are hoping to pull off a big deal in midfield rather than up front by targeting Fiorentina’s Edoardo Bove.
European football expert Kevin Hatchard told Sky Sports: “I think it’s a bit of a coup, this. He’s somebody who’s got great energy in midfield and can do a bit of everything. He can break up play, he can drive forward.
“Obviously there was a lot of competition for places and he couldn’t quite get a regular first-team spot, so he went to Fiorentina and then sadly in a game at the back end of 2024 he collapsed. He’s had that defibrillator put in and it’s a similar situation to Christian Eriksen who could no longer play in Italy when he had that fitted.”
There have been whispers that Premier League scouts are tracking winger Othmane Maamma.
Forward Luca Kjerrumgaard is top scorer with seven goals, followed by midfielder Imran Louza with six.
Bristol City
The call to let winger Yu Hirakawa join Hull caught Bristol City watchers off guard and now eight-goal top scorer Anis Mehmeti has been linked with Ipswich.
They are set to turn their attention elsewhere in their search for a new striker this January, reports Bristol Live, with “the deal previously mooted by Gerhard Struber unlikely to be completed due to the target’s current club now wishing to keep the player on their books.”
Struber is eager to add another player to support Emil Riis and Sinclair Armstrong and he explained recently: “We are in touch with more strikers at the moment. But this must be, in the end, a striker [who] is super convinced to be here, and he must be, in the end, a striker who can help the team technical-tactical-wise, but also mental-wise.
“We are here in exchange with more strikers, and we will see which one decides to jump here and in which direction we decide to bring someone in. We need someone who is also a really good character. Someone who is with a good energy on the way, someone who is hungry and loves to play for Bristol City.”
Wrexham
Jay Rodriguez is back from an ankle injury but, having splashed out £30m in the summer, the BBC claims “funds are available should they be able to find a gem or two in the final stages of the window.”
Summer signing Ryan Hardie has barely featured but has been nursing a knee injury while fellow 2025/26 additions Nathan Broadhead and Josh Windass have been “hampered by injuries” too as they try to find their best form. Kieffer Moore, aged 33 and signed from Sheffield United in the close season, is 10-goal top scorer.
The Wrexham Leader wrote: “We’ll look to be opportunistic. If a player becomes available who can improve us, we’re in a position to pounce. Standing, as we are, on the cusp of the play-off places to the Premier League, we’d be daft not to. However, there’s no necessity to jump into the market, and despite what some outlets suggest, we won’t be tempted away from the overall strategy by the proximity of the promised land.
“Taking transfer gambles isn’t what has got us this far – our transfer success rate under Parkinson is astonishingly good – and we won’t be changing something that works. That’s not what this ownership is about: they don’t cast around hopefully for solutions, throwing money at problems and hoping some of it sticks; they developed a plan and have stuck to it.”
Still, they have been linked with a £14m move for “a striker currently attracting interest elsewhere in Europe” and they have also been credited with interest in Jeremy Sarmiento.
Queens Park Rangers
QPR have brought in Justin Obikwu from Coventry for an undisclosed fee. The 21-year-old forward has never played a first team game for Coventry and made five starts on loan at Lincoln in the first half of last season.
Ten-goal top scorer Rumarn Burrell is injured until at least March. Alfie Lloyd was recalled from a loan spell at Leyton Orient and then sent out to League One promotion hopefuls Lincoln.
David Datro Fofana (19) in action during Turkish Super Lig match between Fatih Karagumruk and Kocaelispor(Image: Anadolu via Getty Images)
Derby County
Derby are in a cluster of clubs along with Celtic and Royal Antwerp who are being linked with Chelsea forward David Datro Fofana, who is being recalled from a loan spell at Fatih Kargaumruk and set to immediately move on again.
Fofana, who is under contract at Chelsea until 2029, has made just four appearances for his parent club and has been sent out on loan to Union Berlin, Burnley and Göztepe before Fatih.
DerbyshireLive report: “Derby’s main focus this window after signing Dion Sanderson and Oscar Fraulo was to move players out which they achieved last week with the exits of Curtis Nelson and Ebou Adams.
“The club may not be finished there in terms of exits either with Ryan Nyambe and Kayden Jackson, who has not been in the squad for the last two games, potential candidates to leave.
“A wide player is something that Derby are considering in the window which may also put Corey Blackett-Taylor’s future under the spotlight in the coming weeks. Fofana can play as a striker or out wide, but he was ostracised by former boss Enzo Maresca.”
Summer striker signing Carlton Morris is top scorer with 10 goals.
Leicester City
Leicester may have found the striker they crave with reports of an agreed deal for Ivorian forward Ibrahim Diabate, reports LeicestershireLive.
The club’s January transfer priority is to strengthen their attacking ranks and they now appear to be on the verge of doing so, with Swedish outlet Aftonbladet reporting that a move has been agreed in principle for Diabate and his club GAIS.
The 26-year-old finished joint-top scorer in the Swedish top flight in the 2025 campaign, scoring 18 goals in 29 appearances.
GAIS had expected to sell Diabate following such an impressive season and reports say that a transfer as well as a loan-to-buy deal have been discussed, with the Swedish club seeking £2m.
Midfielder Jordan James is top scorer with nine goals, followed by wingers Abdul Fatawu and Bobby De Cordova-Reid and forward Jordan Ayew (all five).
Birmingham CIty
Bullish Birmingham have signed 6ft 4in striker August Priske for about £6m from Djugardens IF.
The 21-year-old was top scorer in the Swedish top flight last season with 18 goals in 27 appearances. He has been capped by Denmark up to under-21 level and played European football with Djugarden.
They have already brought in winger Ibrahim Osman from Brighton to make it six loanees at St Andrew’s. Only five are permitted in a match day squad. Osman spent the first half of term at Auxerre.
They could leave a player out each week, turn Patrick Roberts’ switch from Sunderland permanent or send Lewis Koumas back to Liverpool, reports BirminghamLive.
Combatiive midfielder Jhon Solis has joined from Girona and there is talk of interest in Jeremy Sarmiento from Brighton too.
Jay Stansfield is top scorer with eight goals. Lyndon Dykes has joined Charlton.
Adam Armstrong of Southampton scores against Derby County(Image: )
Southampton
A striker is top priority. Damion Downs has returned to Germany without scoring a goal, Ross Stewart is injury prone and Cameron Archer is seen as inconsistent. They have Championship top scorer Adam Armstrong, however, who has 11 goals in 27 appearances.
But club legend Francis Benali warned in a column for the Daily Echo: “I do not see this as a one-signing solution, or even a two-signing fix. I think most supporters can probably identify one or two areas that clearly need strengthening. In truth, it goes deeper than that. There is a lot of work to be done with this squad, and it is not something that can be solved in a single window.
“We also have to acknowledge the realities under which the club is working. Profit and Sustainability rules play a huge part in what can and cannot be done.
“This feels like a longer-term job. The squad looks bloated and probably needs trimming, and that is not easy when players are on good contracts and not necessarily willing to move unless the situation suits them. The reality may be that the club have to take a financial hit on certain players just to reshape things properly.”
Swansea City
Swansea have sounded like they have been hoping for an auction for 11-goal top scorer Yan Vipotnik to bring in cash to strengthen the squad but there has been no movement with him yet.
They have been interested in Crystal Palace winger Jesurun Rak-Sakyi, who has been reportedly not too keen on a move to South Wales.
Manager Vitor Matos told WalesOnline: “I think what we need is to use Vipi in the best way, I think he’s been unbelievable in terms of effort and in terms of outcome. Then it’s about what the market can bring, yes or no, and if it’s something that we need to to invest in the moment. We are more concerned about how can we improve what we have in terms of squad and then finding the right piece to keep the team going for the next step.”
Josh Thomas has joined Derry City on loan and summer signing Bobby Wales could leave on loan too.
Sheffield United’s Patrick Bamford and Stoke City’s Ben Wilmot(Image: PA)
Sheffield Utd
Sheffield United will face a financial black hole without parachute payments next season if they don’t go up this time around so they might be tempted to gamble now.
Chris Wilder has sanctioned a mega contract for free agent Pat Bamford to try to claw back lost ground on the play-off pack. There have bene links with Joe Rothwell, Dan Neil and Ross Barkley.
Wilder told the Sheffield Star: “I’m trying to improve the squad and I’m trying to reduce it as well. It’s a busy time for everybody.”
The club has scrapped a link with a data firm that led to some left field signings using artificial intelligence over the last year as the company tried to buy Sheffield Wednesday.
Callum O’Hare is top scorer with seven goals, Bamford and Tyrese Campbell have five, Tom Cannon has four.
Charlton Athletic
Nathan Jones has signed 30-year-old Scotland striker Lyndon Dykes from Birmingham for an undisclosed fee.
“He’s a big, physical striker who works hard, scores goals and brings plenty of Championship experience, giving us another strong option in attack,” said Jones.
West Bromwich Albion
New boss Eric Ramsey is trying to quickly assess what he needs in any position, not just up front, and what is viable before deadline day.
“There undeniably will be work going on behind the scenes with staff already in place here to see whether the squad can be improved between now and the end of the season,” he said.
The Express and Star added: “It is all quiet on the transfer front at Albion – which is becoming an increasing concern for the supporters. Amid the position in the table and the threat of a relegation battle – Albion need to strengthen. That is clear, there needs to be bodies through the door. Everyone is aware of the financial situation and that Albion will need to work the loan market during this month.
“But even that is quiet and it is becoming a growing concern among the fans. You would like to think there is work going on in the background, which I am sure there is. But it needs to be done fast, Albion need reinforcements to stave off the growing threat of getting sucked into the bottom three.”
Striker Aune Heggebo is top scorer with eight goals, followed by Isaac Price with six.
Blackburn Rovers
Blackburn are continuing to prioritise a new striker in January despite a long-term injury to left wing-back Ryan Hedges, who has been ruled out for three months. Mathias Jorgensen has already arrived from Bodo/Glimt for an undisclosed fee but Valerien Ismael wants another.
Ismael said in the Lancashire Telegraph: “Listen, if we start to say, that is injury, injury, yes, for sure. If you want to replace all the injured players, it would be perfect. But at some point, we have to see the balance in the squad, which is clear. We want a second striker. This is one and after, we have to see what is the best thing to do.
“If we can get another defender, another winger, we will see. But at the minute, our priority is to get a striker. But we’re looking at those areas as well. It’s clear that with the long-term injury from Ryan, you put a little bit more pressure on that position if something happens.”
Portsmouth
Portsmouth are being linked with powerhouse Grenoble centre-forward Nesta Elphege and FC Zurich winger Jahnoah Markelo are John Mousinho tries to add a goal threat this month.
But Grenoble have shrugged off interest in the £1m-rated 6ft 4in striker, aged 25, and Mousinho told The Portsmouth News: “We’ve had Tom (Waddingham) injured and too much strain on Mack (Kirk) and Colby (Bishop), we didn’t expect Mack to play as much as he has so soon. With Callum (Lang) out as well and looking at the injuries you can see why we’re looking there.
“Then there’s the lack of goals we’ve scored. We get into the final third really well, but aren’t doing enough with it. When we have enough attacking players at our disposal that will change. Possibly (a 10) but goalscoring attackers in that area aren’t easy to find.
“That’s the trade off, if you want to buy a guaranteed goalscorer at the level they cost a huge amount and there’s not many of them available. Or you could take a risk abroad. There’s quite a few permutations. What we’re keen to do is get a couple of pieces of the puzzle in place and go from there.”
Midfielder Adrian Segecicc is top scorer with five goals. Winger Yang Min-Hyeok had three but he was recalled by Spurs to be sent on loan to Coventry.
Norwich City
Josh Sargent has been training with the under-21s amid what looks like an increasingly fractious departure.
“Toronto’s initial enquiry is well short of City’s valuation for a player who could have left for the Bundesliga last summer in a £23m package,” writes the Pink Un.
Now there is talk of a £6m move for Bodo/Glimt forward Kasper Hogh, who is scheduled to line up against Manchester City in the Champions League this evening.
The Pink Un adds: “Høgh is among a number of potential striker options being assessed by the Canaries, with the Dane believed to be attracting interest from Championship rivals.
“City head coach Philippe Clement has the backing from Norwich’s top brass to bring in a forward in the closing days of the January transfer window – whether Sargent is sold or not.”
Jovon Makama, aged 21, has looked more and more dangerous and now has 10 goals. Sargent has seven.
Oxford United
Oxford have moved for South Korean winger Jeon Jin-woo, aged 26, from Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors.
The Oxford Mail reports: “Jeon will provide further attacking depth for United following injuries to the likes of Przemyslaw Placheta, Tyler Goodrham, and Nik Prelec as Matt Bloomfield looks to guide the club to Championship safety this season.”
Will Lanshear, on loan from Spurs, is top scorer with six goals.
Sheffield Wednesday
Sheffield Wednesday are resigned to losing “hot property” Bailey Cadamarteri, aged 20. He has two goals in 20 starts for the crisis club this season.
The Sheffield Star reports: “This publication understands that a bid of between £750,000 to £1,000,000 could be considered by those currently in charge of the Owls’ finances, though it remains to be seen whether the Lions – or anyone else for that matter – will be willing to meet that valuation.”
Ike Ugbo, currently out with a hamstring injury, could leave on loan too
“The striker has experienced a difficult time since returning to Wednesday on a permanent basis from French club Troyes in August 2024, scoring just two goals in 59 appearances in all competitions,” adds the Star.
Manager Henrik Pedersen said: “There is, like for Barry (Bannan), like for Max (Lowe), like for other players, interest and there could also be interest for Ugbo.
“But let’s take this step by step. Right now, I cannot say that he’s on the way out. Right now he is with us and he is doing all what he can to be fit again.”
Bannan and Charlie McNeill are joint top scorers with three.
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