Derby, Aston Villa, QPR, Nottingham Forest and Wolves recruits could rescue disappointing seasons following their winter switches.
The January transfer window not only offers desperate clubs the opportunity to right the wrongs of the summer, it also provides those out-of-form or out-of-favour individuals with an escape route and a chance to kick-start their careers elsewhere.
But will this club-changing quintet benefit from their change of scenary?
Neil Taylor
If Stephen Kingsley, a willing yet limited youngster, had ousted Taylor from the first-team picture at Swansea City, the arrival of the always overlapping Martin Olsson drilled the final nail into his Premier League coffin.
Does this reported Aston Villa move hint at key man’s future?
However, a mid-season switch to Villa Park offers a player who strutted his stuff on the Euro 2016 stage the chance to find his form again at club level after stagnating at the Liberty Stadium.
He has the rather difficult task of finding a way past Jordan Amavi in the starting XI but Taylor could prove a crucial squad player as Villa continue their rebuild.
David Nugent
If it’s a proven, lower league goalscorer you’re after, one with a particular penchant for spearheading successful promotion campaigns, look no further than David Nugent.
While cynics questioned Derby’s decision to take a punt on a 31-year-old with just 40 minutes of league action to his name over fellow Middlesbrough outcast Jordan Rhodes, Nugent’s track record speaks for itself.
He’s sampled the sweet, sweet taste of champagne in two of the last three seasons with Leicester and Boro while his experience and tantalising goal record could prove quite the fillip for the league’s second lowest goalscorers.
Aaron Tshibola
Why Tshibola was consigned immediately to the fringes of the first-team when Steve Bruce took the reins from Roberto Di Matteo in October is anyone’s guess. The former Reading youngster’s tenacity in the tackle and boundless energy appeared an ideal solution for a Villa midfield lacking legs and steel yet, in three months, Tshibola only made three league appearences.
Therefore, a short-term loan to Nottingham Forest offers the ideal opportunity to show Bruce what he, if not a number of Villa supporters, had been missing.
Only cut adrift Rotherham have conceded more than Forest’s 47 goals so Tshibola could be in his element shoring up a haphazard midfield.
Matt Smith
21 goals in 92 appearances in the colours of Leeds United and Fulham is hardly likely to whet the appetite of QPR fans starved of goals this season. However, The Cottagers’ loss could be their local rivals gain.
Ian Holloway was hardly subtle about his desire to add a Plan B to an attack too often lacking penetration this season and, at a monstrous 6ft 5ins, Smith is exactly that; a powerful, iron-headed targetman who could provide much-needed end product to the scheming of Massimo Luongo and new signing Luke Freeman.
Matt Smitt struggled at Fulham but he could thrive at QPR
Ben Marshall
The 25-year-old may not have hit his enigmatic heights at Ewood Park this season but, on balance, few in the Blackburn Rovers squad could claim they have performed to their hilt in recent months. Marshall, a regular source of wondergoals in seasons gone by, has found the net only once this season as Owen Coyle’s side fight against the tide of relegation.
However, while Blackburn sink, Wolves have enjoyed riding on the crest of a wave under Paul Lambert. Thanks to four wins in five, including away from home ‘cupsets’ at Stoke and Liverpool, as well as impressive league victories over Villa and Barnsley, Marshall has joined a side on the up.
https://www.hitc.com/en-gb/2017/01/31/do-does-neil-taylors-aston-villa-move-hint-at-jordan-amavis-futu/
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