Signing players in January is always difficult. Clubs are unlikely to sell if they don't want to and don't have to unless a bid is sufficiently large to turn heads as teams need their important players to challenge. We'd be bonkers to let anyone important go at this stage and other teams are probably thinking the same if they can afford it. No chance Carroll was worth £35m or Torres £50m, but that's the sort of level you have to go to secure a big target in January. I don't know whether we're bidding for Hooper just to let Celtic and Hooper know we're interested or whether we think we have a chance this window as Celtic are short on cash.
I have not said that i want to know all the bids and who they are for just something solid from nigel saying we have made bids for a couple of players not just we are working hard.
I think the "working hard" comment is sufficient for us to know that the club are active in the transfer market and are looking to strengthen. We are not going to get names or even that we have put in bids for players. If Adkins came out and said we have bid for 5 players but it hasn't come off, then this would send the wrong signal to everyone. We would start asking questions as to why these players won't come here, palyers we maybe interested in subsequently will think that the club doesn't really want them as they were fourth choice. Other clubs would be tipped off that we are getting desperate to sign people, so would inflate prices. Our own squad will begin to think that they are not good enough. No I think its best that we only know that we are working on getting players in. I also like Adkins comments about only adding to the squad if the right people come along and will enhance the quality of the group of players we have. It shows we are comfortable with our squad but are willing to add if the right deal comes along. One last thing. Since Cortese has been handling transfers I have been very happy with everything he has done and really seems to be selling the club to some quality players. The likes of Fonte, Rickie and Do Prado have been great signings. To get Fonte to drop to League One was a master stroke. I am more than happy for them to keep "working hard" and then reading that we have signed someone else.
