Rotherham United and the closing stages of the transfer window: the last two targets, the rejections and the financial considerations
ROTHERHAM United remain in the hunt for a centre-forward and a wide player as the final week of the January transfer window approaches.
The Millers have already added loan frontman Harry Gray to their squad and signed centre-half Emmanuel Adegboyega on a permanent deal.
Manager Matt Hamshaw revealed that some targets have fallen by the wayside as he stressed his desire to do further business before the February 2 7pm deadline.
“We've lost out on a couple of (wide) midfield players, we've lost out on a striker,” he said. “But, look, we're trying our best to get something in.”
The boss is prepared to let some players leave in order to free up wages for new acquisitions. The arrival of a second attacker is a real possibility and a wing-back would tick the final box on his new-year wish list.
Rotherham are second from bottom in League One and that isn't doing anything to help their bid to recruit.
“There's a lot that goes into it at the minute - league position et cetera,” Hamshaw said. “People look and probably think it's not an exciting proposition to come here. But we know what we're capable of when we have everybody fit.
“We've got to make sure we bring the right players into the club, not just a body. So far, we've done that with Harry and Manny.”
The manager firmly believes that two more arrivals, along with an emptying treatment room, would lead to his squad climbing the table.
“I feel we've got enough if we add the right bodies in the last days of the window,” he said after yesterday's 1-1 draw with AFC Wimbledon at AESSEAL New York Stadium. “It's going to be an important nine days.”
Under previous managerial regimes, Rotherham had a healthy Championship budget in 2023/24 and their largest-ever third-tier outlay last season.
The first of those campaigns brought relegation and the second failed to deliver a much-anticipated promotion push, leading to a drop in spending this term.
“A lot of things go into a transfer,” Hamshaw said. “There are a lot of things that we're trying to be careful with as a club. We've been burnt over the last couple of years. That comes into the equation.”
Sheffield United youngster Ryan One is the Millers' top attacking target but they also have around half a dozen other forwards on their radar in case a loan deal for the Scottish youth international doesn't happen.