The five men Championship clubs should target before the Deadline

January’s Deadline Day is almost here, and after 23:00 this Tuesday, clubs will have to make do with what they’re got from now until the end of the season. So, time is running out to make any improvements.

There are plenty of players available who could make a major impact to a variety of clubs, and no more strongly could this impact be felt than in the Championship.

It’s another mightily close campaign in the second-tier, with the competition hotting up to bag a promotion or play-off spot.

With the Premier League potentially just half a season away, any signings now could prove to be a wonderful investment.

Fabian Delph

The noises coming out of Eastlands lead us to believe that Fabian Delph may have a future with Manchester City, but in truth, it seems unlikely.

Give Pep Guardiola another money-laden summer targeting and acquiring some of the biggest talents in Europe, and it’s clear that Delph’s best option is to move on.

And rather than stick around on the fringes of the first team, it would be a wise move for the midfielder to spend the remainder of this campaign elsewhere.  A loan to former employers Aston Villa or Leeds United could be ideal for player and club.

Jordan Rhodes

With just six Premier League appearances to his name this season, things haven’t worked out at all well for Jordan Rhodes at Middlesbrough.

The Scotland international only joined the Reds 12 months ago, but his Teesside future looks bleak under Aitor Karanka.

Few players have tormented Championship defence as much as Rhodes has in recent years. Aston Villa are reportedly closing in on a deal, but in truth, any second-tier outfit with aspirations of promotion should be bombarding Steve Gibson and Karanka with calls and emails in the next 24 hours or so.

Ross McCormack

Talented? Yes. Proven goal-scorer? Yes. Temperamental? Yes.

That’s the pickle any prospective club will find when pondering over a deal for Aston Villa’s wantaway striker Ross McCormack.

A return to Steve Bruce’s plans looks highly unlikely after their public spat, but there’s no doubting his quality when on the pitch.

For a bottom-half Premier League outfit or a top-half Championship club, the Scottish striker could prove to be the difference between success and failure.

Ashley Fletcher

Caught up in the soap opera that has been West Ham’s 2016-17 season, striker Ashley Fletcher could use some peace and quiet – and regular football – elsewhere.

The 21-year-old is highly rated in east London, but of his 12 Premier League appearances this term, 10 of them have seen him on the pitch for 30 minutes or less.

Leeds boss Garry Monk is known to be a big fan of the former Manchester United youth player, and some regular Championship football would do wonders for the Yorkshire-born forward.

Carl Jenkinson

Like the majority on this list, Arsenal’s Carl Jenkinson will find himself twiddling his thumbs from now until the end of the season unless he leaves the Emirates.

A move to Crystal Palace has been in advanced stages for weeks, but it’s believed player and club have failed to agree personal terms.

So rather than take up a permanent move, it would make plenty of sense for the right-back to head to a Championship side for the latter half of the campaign, and at 24, Jenkinson can’t afford to hang around and be picky about his options anymore.

All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing