The Championship Spotlight focuses on players who *should* be available for summer transfers after missing out in January, with Tottenham and Aston Villa expected to compete for Norwich City’s star player.
Jack Clark (Sunderland)
Burnley, Crystal Palace, Lazio, and West Ham are among the clubs interested in signing in January.
The 23-year-old’s disastrous previous term at Tottenham is now behind him, as his form for Sunderland over the last 18 months has prepared him for a return to the big time.
Clarke and Amad Diallo were sensational as Sunderland made a surprise play-off run last season. And without the Manchester United youth this season, his former teammate has stepped up and become an even more important role.
With 13 goals and three assists in 29 Championship outings, seventh-place Sunderland would not be in such a strong position without Clarke.
And, with new head coach Michael Beale under pressure to secure a second successive top-six finish in the Championship, Clarke’s extension until the summer would have been a comfort.
However, this did not always appear to be the case. It was always going to be difficult for Premier League clubs to match Sunderland’s £20 million+ asking price given their current Financial Fair Play troubles, although Burnley, Crystal Palace, and West Ham were among the interested parties.
While a high-profile Premier League transfer looked improbable, Serie A club Lazio (more on them later) stepped in to make a surprise signing but were unable to complete the deal when a £14 million bid was rejected. This development would have pleased several Premier League clubs, who are certain to sign Clarke in the summer if Sunderland fail to gain promotion.
Jordan James (Birmingham City)
In January, interested teams are Atalanta, Crystal Palace, and the Wolves.
Post-takeover confidence was high at Birmingham City at the start of the season, but it faded as the club’s new American owners made the worst mistake of the season by replacing John Eustace with Wayne Rooney.
Tony Mowbray, their third manager of the season, is a calm hand who is, unsurprisingly, easing the severity of their situation, with the Blues presently seven points clear of the relegation zone.
After emerging as a pre-season dark horse for promotion, Birmingham’s desire for this campaign to be over is discouraging. While Rooney interrupted their development, the greater budget granted by their new owners means they *should* be back on track soon.
However, they will most likely do it without James, who was close to joining Serie A club Atalanta in January. The rumored Palace and Wolves target has been a bright spot for Birmingham, with six goals in 26 outings.
A rising star, the 19-year-old is likely to follow in Adam Wharton’s footsteps by joining a Premier League team for a sizable price later this year.
Viktor Johansson (Rotherham United).
Sheffield United is one club that has expressed interest in January.
As F365’s resident Rotherham supporter, I’ve quickly fallen out of love with football this season, as the South Yorkshire club spirals towards relegation to League One.
Rotherham United fans were overjoyed when the club broke their yo-yo last season, thanks in large part to their Swedish international goalkeeper.
Without Johansson, the Millers would have failed last season, and this season’s standings would be much more depressing.
Being a Rotherham United goalkeeper in the second tier is often a thankless job, but Johansson has single-handedly kept his team in countless games over the last 18 months and is now widely considered as one of the league’s finest shot-stoppers.
With relegation seemingly inevitable, the Millers would have been prudent to cash in on Johansson in January before his value plummets ahead of his contract expiration in 2025.
Johansson, who is linked with Sheffield United, will almost certainly go in the summer, and this writer will be extremely sad when that happens.
Jonathan Rowe (norwich City)
Aston Villa, Lazio, Tottenham, and Wolves are all interested in signing in January.
When looking for this season’s breakout talent in the Championship, look no further than Rowe, who has burst onto the scene in spectacular fashion.
The 20-year-old has joined fellow wingers Clarke and Crysencio Summerville of Leeds United in lighting up the Championship with 17 goals in 31 games in all competitions.
Rowe has already attracted the attention of Premier League clubs, and he has also made it into Lazio’s Championship-heavy January transfer list.
The brilliant winger is already on Tottenham’s radar, and he will have the pick of clubs to join in the summer, with Aston Villa and Wolves both interested.
Tottenham are suddenly a more appealing club than Barcelona, thus they will most likely win the race to sign him.
Callum O’Hare (Coventry City)
Burnley, Leicester City, and Southampton are all interested in signing in January.
After suffering a hangover from last season’s play-off final defeat, Coventry City are one of the Championship’s most in-form teams, having risen up the table to enter the top six.
Coventry, like Luton Town, overachieved last season to contend for promotion, which is even more surprising given that Mark Robins’ side did it with one of their finest players out injured since Boxing Day.
Burnley targeted O’Hare during the 2022 summer transfer window, but he missed the entire season’s run-in and did not return to the first team until October.
Fortunately for Coventry, their gifted central midfielder has rapidly back to his best, scoring six goals in his last 17 outings.
Even without Viktor Gyokeres and Gustavo Hamer, Coventry will be hoping to go one better this season, and if they don’t, they face another heartbreaking farewell in the summer, with O’Hare being monitored by promotion chasers Leicester City and Southampton in January, as well as Burnley.
Morgan Whittaker of Plymouth Argyle
Brentford, Fulham, and Lazio are all interested in signing in January.
Whittaker, who was reportedly on Lazio’s transfer list in January, has been enjoying his time at newly promoted Plymouth Argyle this season.
Plymouth took a gamble in the summer, spending £1 million to recruit Whittaker from Swansea City and the same amount on Bali Mumba from Norwich City.
This could have easily backfired, but both players have lived up to their price tags, allowing Plymouth to surge to Championship safety.
Whittaker has been a sensation for Plymouth in the Championship, with 15 goals and six assists, and the club will have to enjoy the 23-year-old while he is still available before the Brentford and Fulham target moves to the Premier League in the summer.
Plymouth’s £1 million risk in signing Whittaker will pay off tenfold, as they will be repaid for their sorrowful goodbye by generating a big profit on their prized asset later this year.
