The January transfer window ordinarily allows clubs the chance to reshape their squads at will, dependent on how well or badly their season has gone to date.
But this season, understandably, the situation has been somewhat different.
With all leagues below the Championship suspended until further notice due to COVID-19; the window hasn’t provided as many transfers as it normally would have, with clubs strapped for cash mainly choosing to focus attention on squad retention.
Despite this, Championship clubs have still been able to add quality to their squads, making this long and arduous month a little more bearable. Here are Brig’s standout transfers in the division this month.
Gary Mackay-Steven – New York City to Heart of Midlothian
This is arguably the ‘big name’ signing of the window in the Championship, with GMS swapping the Big Apple for Gorgie. The tricky winger is well known to Scottish football fans, having previously had spells at: Airdrie, Dundee United, Celtic and Aberdeen.
The 30-year-old has already shown his quality in games, helping turn around a lacklustre Hearts performance on his debut against Alloa Athletic. It shouldn’t be too long until he registers a goal or assist to his name.
The signing shows the intention of Hearts going forward – this is not a club who want to be languishing in Scotland’s second tier for too long. Having brought the wide man in on a two-and-a-half-year deal, the Jambos clearly have sights on him playing a starring role in the sides likely return to the Premiership next season.
Kai Kennedy – Rangers to Raith Rovers (Loan)
The list continues with another winger, but this this time on the younger end of the scale, with highly rated Rangers youngster Kai Kennedy. The playmaker had been on loan to fellow Championship club, Inverness Caledonian Thistle, earlier in the campaign, but it has been decided that the best place to continue his development is with John McGlynn’s Raith Rovers.
Kennedy has hit the ground running remarkably well, fitting into Raith’s free flowing attacking style with ease. He already a goal to his name, following an impressive strike against Dundee, as well as three assists.
Not only has this move strengthened Raith, but it has weakened Inverness – a shrewd move from the Fife side, who look destined for the promotion play offs.
Malachi Fagan-Walcott – Tottenham to Dundee (Loan)
It’s not often that a player goes from playing in the Champions League to the Scottish Championship in a season, but this is exactly the situation for young defender Malachi Fagan-Walcott.
The Spurs youngster is highly rated by the London club, who gave him his professional debut in Europe last season against RB Leipzig. The 18-year-old moves to the Dee in the hopes of playing as many games as possible during the six-month loan, as he looks to recover from a long-term injury.
Dundee will be hoping that Fagan-Walcott can help solidify their leaky defence, which has conceded the third most goals in the league, to finish second place in the league.
Jack Hamilton – Livingston to Arbroath (Loan)
At the other end of the table, Arbroath have secured the services of striker Jack Hamilton, who has now scored in League One, the Championship and the Premiership this season.
Hamilton spent the first half of the season on loan at East Fife, where he scored seven league goals, before the enforced break in play. The striker had been the catalyst for East Fife’s run of form in December and early January.
Before switching from East Fife to Arbroath, the forward even had time to notch a goal for high-flying Livi in the Premiership.
The talented marksmen has now already shown his worth to Arbroath in the Championship, scoring a winner against Morton on Saturday, which lifts the Red Lichties above relegation rivals Alloa Athletic. Hamilton looks as if he could be the difference at the ever-tight bottom of the table.
Featured Image: Paul Devlin/SNS
4th Year Journalism Studies and Politics Student at Stirling University. Sports Editor. Bylines in Brig Newspaper and The Oban Times
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