, The must-haves of January 2018 – Three Premier League players for three Championship clubs

The must-haves of January 2018 – Three Premier League players for three Championship clubs

The Championship is renowned for being one of the hardest second-tier divisions in world football. Many respected clubs with huge fanbases currently compete in the league, and with recently-relegated clubs (such as Aston Villa) now receiving long-term parachute payments, the Championship has become harder than ever before to negotiate.

With the January transfer window now open, Championship clubs will be making bids thick and fast, in their respective missions to either battle for promotion or avoid relegation. Here are three Premier League players that could potentially make an impact in the Championship over the next four months.

Connor Goldson – Brighton to Nottingham Forest

For Goldson, stuck on just one full Premier League appearance, any mid-table Championship club free from the pressures of a relegation dogfight would be an ideal destination.

Despite getting a clean sheet at promotion-chasing Leeds on New Years’ Day, Nottingham Forest are known as one of the weaker defensive outfits in the Championship’s mid-table zone.

As of the F.A Cup third round weekend, only relegation zone dwellers Birmingham had lost more games than Forest, with Aitor Karanka’s side clearly lacking effective leadership from the back.

Nonetheless, Forest remain a surprisingly high buy/sell in the current football spread betting price list for the Championship, and this is a reflection of the fact that only minor changes may be needed at the City Ground.

In a relatively seamless move, Goldson would contest a centre-back spot with Michael Mancienne and Joe Worrall. Alternatively, Karanka may consider slotting him into a back three that could enable Forest to defend in numbers when required.

In doing so effectively, Karanka will eliminate whatever slim chance remains of the two-time European champions slipping into a relegation dogfight.

Nikola Vlasic – Everton to Sunderland

Sunderland and Everton have developed a unique relationship over the past three years, with the Wearside club showing a propensity to acquire Everton’s unwanted players at surprisingly generous sums.

A thoroughbred winger, Vlasic arrived at Goodison Park on transfer deadline day after impressing as a Hadjuk Split player against Everton in the final qualifying round of the Europa League.

Though he boasts a good turn of pace, Vlasic is still the incomplete article in terms of delivery and composure on the ball. Whether any move to the Championship would be permanent or temporary depends entirely on Sam Allardyce’s long-term plans for the Croat.

His game time has been significantly limited from day one, and with isolated rumours of unrest, his cut-price value would be an affordable one for any team still receiving parachute payments – enter Sunderland.

A relegation battle is a far from ideal way to introduce oneself to the rigours of second-tier football, but Vlasic has the aggression needed to make such a move work at a base level.

At present, Sunderland look destined for a second successive relegation, unless a final and drastic roll of the proverbial dice proves productive.

Steve Mounie – Huddersfield to Hull City

Like Sunderland, Hull are also receiving parachute payments, but the Tigers are not in a much better condition than their Wearside peers.

Stuck in 21st place and above Burton by mere virtue of goal difference, Hull needs a hero now more than ever. Last year, Everton’s Oumar Niasse flourished in a loan spell at Hull City, but it was too little too late.

After getting his Premier League career underway with a resounding double against Crystal Palace, Mounie has faded. With Huddersfield all but safe in the Premier League for another year, and Mounie already located reasonably near to the KCOM Stadium, this is a loan move that Nigel Adkins would do well to consider.

Such a move has to come sooner rather than later. Adkin’s Hull side does not struggle for goals as much as its relegation rivals, but the team lacks a man that can spearhead any sort of ‘Plan B’, whenever existing strategies are proving useless.

With Hull returning just one win in thirteen prior to last weekend’s 1-0 F.A Cup win at Blackburn, Adkins has no choice but to act on the lessons of the very recent past, and find another marksman who is desperate to prove himself.

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