Premiership clubs face 11 days to finalise summer business as squad issues persist
Scottish Premiership managers have 11 days remaining to complete transfer activity before the January window opens, with several clubs still identifying squad gaps, balancing numbers and protecting key players.
Winter moves are often short-term fixes and many managers prefer to avoid them, a point reflected in this season’s late-summer assessment of where each Premiership side stands; questions include which positions need strengthening, which fringe players should be moved on and which stars must be retained.
At Pittodrie, 13 arrivals and 14 departures have left head coach Stephen Robinson appearing to rebuild from the ground up, yet the squad still contains areas to address; Robinson has publicly said he has too many players, Aberdeen’s roster sits at 28 (the third largest in the league) and the club looks more likely to market players than to add further faces.
Celtic’s starting XI looks settled after the early impact of Kasper Hogh and Camilo Duran, but Martin O’Neill faces bench shortfalls when squad depth is considered; Reo Hatate is expected to leave, right-back Alistair Johnston has a reported extended spell on the sidelines, and the £22m fee for Arne Engels could fund reinforcements. Manager O’Neill has flagged management of Kieran Tierney’s minutes — Tierney is 29 and currently the only senior left-back — while Viljami Sinisalo needs goalkeeping competition, Colby Donovan has impressed, and another right-back is eyed ahead of Champions League fixtures.
Steven Pressley currently operates with the league’s smallest first-team group — 22 players, one of whom, Simon Murray, is injured for the season — leaving him with just five natural defenders plus Drey Wright, who can cover across the back four. Pressley has limited wide options, recalled that Yan Dhanda and Cam Congreve signed late in the previous window and has identified at least two positions needing reinforcements; he will again look to the loan market to plug those gaps.
Dundee United manager Jim Goodwin has added 12 players at Tannadice in a summer that hinted at a change of recruitment philosophy, with Dylan Tait a signal of a homegrown emphasis while the signings of Abdoulaye Yoro and Idjessi Metsoko suggested a different approach. A likely departure for left-back Will Ferry would leave Kevin Ciubotaru as the only natural left-back on the books, and United have scored just one goal in their past four matches, putting doubt over whether Lachlan Rose or Zac Sapsford can lead the line alone; Metsoko and Ciubotaru remain relatively unproven at this level.
Falkirk boss John McGlynn has overseen 14 incoming players, tasked with replacing last season’s successful loan recruits Filip Lissah, Ben Broggio, Kyrell Wilson and Ethan Williams plus goals dropped by Barney Stewart and Calvin Miller. McGlynn has taken Finley Barbrook on loan from Ipswich and added striker Jacob Morrell from DC United, and he has indicated there could be up to three more signings although only Morrell has arrived so far.
Hearts’ squad is the largest mentioned, with Wouter Vrancken saying he would like to trim to 27 from a current 32; American striker JJ Williams is reported to be in Edinburgh ahead of a proposed medical. The club’s forward options include Pierre Landry Kabore, Amadou Ba-Sy, James Wilson and Elton Kabangu (the latter reportedly available for departure), while attacking midfielders Yan Dhanda and Sander Kartum have been linked with exits and Claudio Braga has been strongly linked with a big-money move but has committed to perform until any transfer occurs.
In Leith, David Gray has made six signings with only two permanent departures, Chris Cadden and Elie Youan, and has warned the squad remains thin in places; Josh Mulligan is being linked with a move to Serie A, amid references in the report to former Hibees Kieron Bowie and Josh Doig’s moves to Sassuolo. Neil McCann’s January recruitment received praise, but his summer window has not produced the same impact at Kilmarnock, where defensive frailties persist and George Stanger has been linked with Burton Albion; supporters have discussed potential defensive returns such as Joe Wright, and the right flank remains a concern with Jamie Brandon the only recognised right-back.
Motherwell have made nine summer signings under Alfred Johannson and appear settled, though several attacking players are injured and the club has already sold Elijah Just, Elliot Watt and Calum Ward for significant fees. Tawanda Maswanhise has two goals in his past 17 games and his contract runs until next summer, prompting debate over whether now is the time to sell. Rangers supporters have expressed dissatisfaction with a slow start, the squad has been overhauled with 11 new signings yet to fully bed in, John Souttar is expected to depart, Emmanuel Fernandez is attracting interest, Ben Godfrey has picked up an injury and Youssef Chermiti is out for the season; several players — including Cammy Devlin and Lawrence Shankland — have found themselves on the bench while Connor Barron and Lyall Cameron have reportedly been told to seek new clubs and Clinton Nsiala and Jose Cifuentes have not featured under Derek McInnes.
Simo Valakari is awaiting Fifa ratification of a move for Bosnian left-back Enes Alic amid a dispute with FK Zeljeznicar about his status, a transfer deemed necessary as Matthew Foulds is currently the only available left-back and Liam Smith has been covering the role. Ross County are also considering another right-back and a central midfielder, with Reece McAlear, Jason Holt, Sam Stanton and Macaulay Tait named as options and Aaron Lewis previously looked at before Perth Saints decided against offering him a contract. Craig McLeish faces the immediate task of retaining Killian Phillips with MLS interest reported — the MLS window closes one day before Scotland’s — and his squad has lost strikers Mikael Mandron, Jonah Ayunga, Dan Nlundulu and Kion Etete, leaving only Eseosa Sule and Jake Young as forwards; Alex Gogic and Marcus Fraser have been the starting centre-backs, Richard King sits lower in the pecking order and the departure of Miguel Freckleton has further underlined the need for defensive cover.
Clubs across the Premiership therefore have 11 days to weigh sales, emergency buys, loan options and retention decisions before the winter deadline; decisions made in that short period will determine which squads remain stretched, which trim to preferred sizes and which players might yet move on.
