Ashton: We Will Be Active in January Window
Thursday, 18th Dec 2025 10:26

Town chairman and CEO Mark Ashton has confirmed that the Blues will be active during the January transfer window.

Strong winter business played a big part in Town’s back-to-back promotions from League One and the Championship and Blues supporters will be hoping the prospects of a return to the Premier League will be given a similar boost this time around.

“I was thinking about going on holiday in January!” Ashton joked when asked about his plans for the window at Tuesday evening’s PLC AGM.

“It’s tough. I’m not going to lie to you, it’s never a good window to recruit in. Everybody’s looking for the same type of player.

“The good thing with us is, because of the backing that we’ve got, it’s very rare we fail because of finances.

“The challenge is that you’re always looking to bring in better. If he’s going to bring someone in, [manager] Kieran [McKenna] wants better than he’s got.

“To do that, you’ve got to go into higher divisions and the challenge then is to persuade a player to leave that higher division.

“When we brought Kieffer [Moore] in on loan [from AFC Bournemouth] in the promotion season, I remember us having that challenge.

“I remember when we signed Broady [Nathan Broadhead], sitting down with him and the family here at a hotel, trying to persuade them to leave Everton and come to League One. We had the same conversations with Leif [Davis, who was at Leeds].

“We’ve been growing on such a curve, we’ve always liked trading. It’s always a challenge to recruit players that will help make us better, and we try to move so quickly.

“You can guarantee we’ll be active in January. We’ve brought in now Mick Court from Manchester United as head of recruitment and that’s a long-term strategy for the people and infrastructure and data and technology he’ll bring in.

“But we will be active in the positions Kieran wants us in and, for sure, this January, to make sure we’re competitive again.

“I don’t think there’s been a transfer window when we’ve been here that we haven’t been active in and we need to be again in January. Can’t tell you who yet though!”

Photo: TWTD

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ArnieM added 10:31 - Dec 18 I wonder who weve identified ? Hopefully things are already a way down the line in securing targetted players , as we really cant afford to be hangimg around all through January to get deals done. Fingers crossed its a 40 goal a season striker..... I jest , ok !
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MickMillsTash added 10:39 - Dec 18 A Number 8, 9 and 10 please - but the recent recruitment campaigns suggest we might end up with a few Numbers 2's
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broseleyblue added 10:45 - Dec 18 I too wish we will be able to go early Arnie but it’s unlikely. Clubs will want to hang on for the best price and that usually means the end of the month. We don’t want more Ahadme and Al Hamadi deals either. Unfortunately, I can’t think of a realistic and proven goalscorer likely to be available.
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Stato added 11:07 - Dec 18 Recruitment during the McKenna era has been hugely disappointing with so many expensive flops. We really must try and improve at number 8 and ideally number 9 too. what we don't need is bench warmers
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Saxonblue74 added 11:25 - Dec 18 Stato, Philogene, Hutchinson,Greaves, Egeli, Delap, Jack Clarke, O’Shea, Matusiwa, Szmodics, Nûnez, Taylor, Hirst, Cajuste, Davis, Luongo, Tuanzebe, have I missed anyone? I wouldn’t call that a list of hugely expensive flops!
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Clemcc added 11:25 - Dec 18 Thinking - have a look at the Norwegian u21 squad. I seen a few games and they played pretty good. This number of reasons - they are good players, investment, and will bond with Sindre and he may come even better (Sindre wll have a native friend in Ipswich which hopefully make him very happy, build confidence and score goals)
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Porksmith99 added 11:26 - Dec 18 Weren't we linked with Dan Neil (from Sunderland) earlier this year? Hasn't really featured for The Black Cats in the Prem, but a quality holding midfielder at this level. Loan maybe?
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Bazza8564 added 11:29 - Dec 18

Ill take a creative 8, a 9, a 4 and a GK please, some prawn crackers, and no more wingers.

I might also be inclined to sign Kipre and Cajuste permanently in January, because that will mean we can use the freed up two loan positions to grab some players with obligations for higher numbers in the summer, and not ask players to take a "risk" coming to us if they are currently at PL clubs. Pope would be a great example if Newcastle do indeed sign Trafford.

Cadiar added 11:38 - Dec 18 Like the idea of Pope
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JewellintheTown added 11:55 - Dec 18 He's done us proud, even if a few haven't quite achieved what we'd have hoped. Part of the gamble. Don't see that changing. We're very lucky to have who and what we have.
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BangaloreBlues added 12:14 - Dec 18 Is Haaland getting bored at Man City?
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Rimsy added 12:22 - Dec 18 Hopefully 1 or 2 that have failed to deliver, can be moved on in Jan. Either selling or cutting short loans.
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Gazelle added 12:27 - Dec 18 Second best goal difference in the league, McK will decide who comes and who goes, not us.
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PhuketPete added 12:48 - Dec 18

Everyone talks about forwards (don’t disagree we could do with strengthening - if anyone is available) but for me we are super exposed in MF if we pick up an injury or when Azor gets his 10th card and a two game ban. Harry, Cam and young Barbrook are options to cover but surely they all have to go out on loan or they’ll never develop.. esp Cam who is totally wasted at the moment from what I see. If Cam Harry and Elkan go on leave that also opens up three slots in the 25 squad.

TimmyH added 13:29 - Dec 18 Our owners seem to have a bottomless wallet...just hope that Ashton and McK get some useful acquisitions in, in general we haven't been that successful in the last few.
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TimmyH added 13:33 - Dec 18 Saxon - sorry mate but some of those have NOT been good signings and some certainly when we were in the Premiership, you've just made a list there. Since we got promoted to the top league in 2024 we've signed some very average players.
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beardo7181 added 13:33 - Dec 18 Joel Piroe anyone?
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Len_Brennan added 13:41 - Dec 18

I agree with Pete about the importance of bringing in another midfielder (a #6) aa cover for Matusiwa; he is almost certainly going to hit his 10th yellow before the end of the month, giving a 2 match ban, but an even bigger issue will be when he gets his 15th, possibly in April, resulting in a further 3 match ban for what we expect will be a key period of a promotion chasing run in.

Saxonblue74 added 14:13 - Dec 18

TimmyH, it's not so long ago we were scratching around in the lower leagues/non league. We have come a very long way, in a very short period of time and the quality of our signings is reflective of this. Performances have been a little flat of late, but the position in the league is one that we could only dream of 4 seasons ago, and we're not half way through the season yet.

Stato added 14:14 - Dec 18 @saxon that is a list of almost enttirely championship level players but glad you're happy. my comment was aimed at those with a lot more ambition. anyone using taylor as an example of great signings I just csn't take seriously
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chepstowblue added 14:29 - Dec 18 Our strikers aren't great. Hirst has been shocking recently and the jury is out on Azon. I could rattle off at least twelve championship sides who have better quality up top. Overall we have a good squad, but nothing that's going to set us apart from the rest, or suggest anything other than a side that may.......MAY scrape into the top six.
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trevski_s added 14:34 - Dec 18

I don't think we will need too many signings:

IN - New number 9 (definite must) and maybe another LB as backup (although with Clarke returning Young could be more featured on LB)

RECALL - Chappers (maybe terminate Akpom loan?)

SELL - I reckon Johnson will be on the way out as I think McKenna has no plans for him anymore (and with Clarke almost back too)

LOAN OUT - McAteer, Cam and Baggott (as much as I would like to see the latter 2 play more)

This would then also leave 2 free spots in the 25

Tedray added 14:35 - Dec 18

it allseems a bit odd and unbalanced - four or so right backs - four or so right attackers - no particular cover for the hard working matusiwa and davis who may well be at the risk of injury the squandering of so many millions is a concern as well as purchasing players who have peaked and do not look like returning to any sort of form - more of the same perhaps in january will not be good.

Razor added 14:41 - Dec 18 There is one person we need to buy immediately on January 1st and that is the curly haired ginger Yank from up the road. Pay whatever we need to and he will be the Marcus Stewart of a few years ago with the same effect.
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davidh added 15:04 - Dec 18 Have to agree with Razor, Hurst doesn’t seem to be the player he was, he has to have more competition and the American could be the answer!
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