It's been a unorthodox season in the Championship, Burnley's 1-0 victory over Huddersfield on the 29th July was the earliest opening day ever, and then we had a four week absence during the World Cup. But, the January transfer window is the same as ever, with a host of Premier League clubs eyeing the divisions prized assets. So which players look like a transfer is calling their name...
5. Anass Zaroury: The Moroccan was the Clarets 14th summer signing, poached from Belgian Pro League strugglers Sporting Charleroi. His new manager Vincent Kompany had been a long admirer of the youngster, from his maiden managerial stint at Anderlecht. He has been used sparingly so far this season, with 11 starts in the Championship, but he has certainly looked sharp and made an impact when he has played. The highlight was his long-range curler from just outside the 18-yard box in Burnley’s comeback victory against Sunderland. This is what he is capable of, he is a technical and fast winger who will stretch teams down the channel, or cut inside onto his right foot and hurt the opposition. His impressive start to life in Lancastershire, even earnt him his first ever international call-up, as he was a late inclusion in Walid Regragui’s World Cup squad. Post World Cup, he has scored three goals in four games, to make it nine goals in all competitions this season. It might be too early to suggest a January move to the top flight, but his excelling form and high potential will be putting him on several Premier League sides radar’s.
4. Ilias Chair: The Queens Park Rangers playmaker, has been at the centre of a move to the Premier League for two seasons now. Since 2019, the 25-year-old has averaged 12 goal contributions per season in the Championship and he has progressively improved year on year. Like his fellow national compatriot Zaroury, he was also called up for Morocco at the World Cup but did not make an appearance as the Atlas Lions became the first African side to reach the semi-finals. He is at his best as a number 10, because it gives him freedom to exploit spaces in behind and open play by feeding his teammates out wide. When he receives the ball, he is like a magnet because defenders panic and try to circle him, but he always has the composure and intelligence to find a pass. He has struggled this season to be as effective, amid a turbulent campaign for QPR who lost manager Steve Beale to Rangers. However, similar to Said Benrahma who has flourished since moving to West Ham, maybe that next level might just give him the boost that he needs. In addition, Chair is something of a set piece specialist on free-kicks and from corners. The only concern if he was to secure a move to the top flight is his physicality, because at 171cm, he is easily knocked off the ball and sometimes taken out of games.
3. Viktor Gyokeres: Brighton have notoriously been known for their struggles infront of goal since moving to the Premier League. So, it is baffling to think, that they gave away Viktor Gyokeres for a bargain £900,000 in 2021 to Coventry City. Since, moving to the Championship the Swede has become instrumental in the Sky Blues rise towards promotion. He is the talisman upfront, and the mid-table side are merely a shadow when he is side-lined, last season he amounted to 28% of Coventry’s goals. The 24-year-old is clinical infront of goal and his low centred of gravity, along with his strength make him very difficult to shrug of the ball. He is a manager’s dream, because he plays with such tenacity and energy, where he leaves everything out on the pitch which has made him a fan favourite in the West Midlands. This has meant his departure has become a “inevitability” with Fulham, Wolves, Leeds and Everton all in a dogfight for his signature. His 12 goals this season, have already reinforced his consistency at this level and he will certainly feel a necessity to return to the topflight to show Brighton what they missed. Who knows, maybe it will go full circle and we might just see him on the South Coast once again.
2. Illiman Ndiaye: Picked up for free from Non-league Boreham Wood, Ndiaye has become Sheffield United’s star player this season. The Senegalese has the highest goal contributions in the Championship (16) and his form earnt him a place in Aliou Cisse’s World Cup squad. This season he has predominately played in a strike partnership in a 3-4-1-2. This has created the perfect combination for manager Paul Heckingbottom, as Ndiaye can run in behind and stretch teams, whilst offering the option of the long ball. While McBurnie or Sharp act as the target men who can hold the ball up, the result is 2nd in the table and 44 goals scored. What makes him such a difficult player to nullify, is his movement and acceleration, where he loves to get defenders in one-on-one positions or out wide on the wing where he can run to the by-line. The 22-year-old is attracting interest from Liverpool and Nottingham Forest, but United certainly won’t easily part ways with him and could demand in excess of £30m. His departure in January seems unlikely as the Blades will not want to do anything to hamper their automatic promotion charge .But, the pedigree of the interested parties emphasises his talent, he is a gamechanger with the skillset to be able to win you a game with his moment of magic.
1. Ben Brereton Diaz: The Stoke-born striker has experienced a remarkable make-over after switching national allegiance to Chile and calling himself Brereton Diaz. Before 2021, the former Nottingham Forest forward had scored just 17 goals in 133 appearances, but since the re-name he has 31 goals in just 63 appearances. He has everything; a lethal strike, aerial prowess, strength and composure in front of goal which has made him one of the divisions best players. In August, Nice and Fulham both submitted bids for the 25-year-old ,however Blackburn refused to play ball. Many clubs are awaiting the prospect of Diaz as a free agent at the end of the season, so expect many contract offers in January to secure his services. His form has been key in the Blue and Whites surge for promotion last season under Tony Mowbray and this year with Jon Dahl Tomasson. Blackburn fans will be preying that their club, currently 3rd, can earn promotion to the Premier League this season to convince their star player to stay. He is also a very versatile forward, who has evolved his game since moving to Lancastershire. At Forest he was mainly deployed out wide on the left, but his goalscoring form has come more recently as a centre-forward.
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