It is a welcome change in policy to see a couple of first team players join in a January window (assuming no further business, ofc) rather than panic buys and loans. It has been clear since the season opened, and probably for longer, that the squad needed surgery but my thinking on the summer has changed from being almost overwhelmed by the scale of changes needed to being quietly optimistic that it is actually only some tweaking needed now.
While it is only 2 players, when you add in the injured guys returning (those likely to stay fit) suddenly it appears we have a core group of younger, hungrier players that need a few more, rather than a squad needing to be ripped up and totally replaced. The majority of the players likely to leave are already replaced and in truth, Kent and a striker are now the two concerns. If we can replace both in the summer, or if Kent signs back on just a striker, we are maybe now only looking at a goalkeeper and centre half to have us in a really strong place squad wise. Further additions in midfield would be welcome, but the overall picture looks far better than it did.
Do we still think that wholesale changes will be needed or do people agree that a summer seeing 2-3 key signings would actually get us right back on track?
I'm optimistic that this window has moved us on a good bit, but it all depends on how the next few months shake out. So many variables that could either tilt us towards being in a decent position going into the window, or leave us with a lot of work to do. We'll be in a good position if:
Defence: Yilmaz returns and impresses, Tav's form recovers, Devine continues to impress in cameos, Davies and Goldson's partnership settles into a real spine, Souttar stays fit and competes
Midfield: Raskin is the player we hope he can be, Tillman's growth continues, Hagi and Lawrence return strong, Lundstram gets a rest, shakes off injury and gets back to the form of the Europa run
Attack: Kent stays and continues to progress, Colak gets fit and hits form again, Cantwell impresses, Sakala's form doesn't dip
That's just the players I think will be here and can be core players next season. I think Kamara and Morelos will be away, but if they stay and get back to their best, they could also contribute.
If things do go in the right direction, we'll be set up well for the summer window. There will still be important work to do - we would obviously need a goalkeeper and no. 9, and I would also feel better if we brought in another central defender and central midfielder. But it now feels like we might have brought in two players who can be key players as part of a much stronger squad going into next season.