OXFORD United’s January transfer window consisted of replacing loan recalls and adding in a couple of areas, but how did their Sky Bet League One rivals get on?
All 24 League One clubs dipped into the market to make additions to their squad, with some teams much busier than others.
We had a look at the business which stood out, and who we think had the most successful window.
League One transfer tracker: All the January deals in the third tier
Bolton Wanderers and Portsmouth are the two sides whose transfer activity appears the most impressive.
Starting with the Trotters, four players were brought in, three of which were on loan.
The permanent signing of striker Aaron Collins from Bristol Rovers for a reported £750,000 on deadline day, was one of the most eye-catching bits of business done in League One.
Collins was named the League One player of the season for the previous campaign, after grabbing 16 goals and 11 assists.
He’s not been as prolific in front of goal this season, with just three league strikes, but nine assists, including one just moments after coming off bench on his debut at home to Barnsley, show he is still very much one of the elite players in the third tier.
In addition to Collins, young talent in Swansea City left back Nathanael Ogbeta, Liverpool right back Calvin Ramsay, and West Bromwich Albion centre half Caleb Taylor were all snapped up, and should boost the Trotters defensively, while providing some quality in wider areas.
Pompey meanwhile continued where they left off in the summer, with another busy window. Five players were added last month, with three of them joining late on.
Former loanee Matt Macey will provide competition between the posts after arriving as a free agent, while promising attacking midfielder Myles Peart-Harris joined on loan from Brentford.
It is the three later additions though, who demonstrated Pompey’s strength in the market.
Tom McIntyre, Owen Moxon and Callum Lang arrive at Fratton Park all in their mid-20s, and therefore with considerable experience under their belts, but also with plenty of time to improve.
Centre back McIntyre had stood out at former club Reading for the past couple of seasons, while midfielder Moxon was integral to Carlisle United’s promotion last season.
It’s Lang who has grabbed the headlines already though, with two goals in his first two games.
That includes his strike after coming on as a substitute in Pompey’s 2-2 draw at Grenoble Road.
Lang has slotted in quickly at Portsmouth, and adds more firepower to an attack which already boasts the likes of Colby Bishop and Paddy Lane.
There doesn’t seem an awful lot of difference between what Bolton and Portsmouth did in the window, in terms of quality, however the latter may just edge it, having brought in a new spine of players at an age where they’ve got great experience already, but can also get better.
The U’s did some good business too last month, and it’s pretty fair to say it was among the best done in League One.
Like-for-like signings were made in Jamie Cumming, and wingers Tyler Burey and Owen Dale, to replace James Beadle and Stan Mills, who both saw their loans come to an end.
The additions of Jay Matete and Will Goodwin could be the most important for United though, as both a defensive midfielder and target man up front were positions the club did not have covered prior to the aforementioned pair’s arrivals.
With successive promotions from League One on his CV, Matete should bring some know-how to the group, while also filling a hole which has been vacant since Alex Gorrin suffered his first serious knee injury back in November 2021.
Goodwin meanwhile offers the U’s an alternative option through the middle, allowing the team to go long and have a physical presence. From set pieces, he should provide a boost too, both offensively and defensively.
Among the other League One sides to do decent business, Port Vale managed to bring in some talented youngsters in their battle against the drop.
Teenage midfielder Dan Gore is said to be highly thought of at Manchester United, while Jensen Weir impressed at Morecambe last season, while on loan from Brighton & Hove Albion.
The situation with the Valiants has had a spanner thrown in the works though, after former U’s captain Andy Crosby was sacked as manager.
Whether talent such as Gore and Weir is allowed to blossom will remain to be seen.
Charlton Athletic had a busy window, with nine new arrivals. Talented midfielders Tyreeq Bakinson and Lewis Fiorini arrived on loan from Sheffield Wednesday and Manchester City, while centre back Macaulay Gillesphey and striker Freddie Ladapo enjoyed promotion to the Championship last season with Plymouth Argyle and Ipswich Town respectively.
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