The collective groans from fans of Scottish Premiership clubs are quite clear the morning after the close of the transfer window.
There was no real deadline day drama on a par with the likes of Robbie Keane or Aaron Ramsey being squeezed in before the clock struck 11pm. But that doesn’t mean there wasn’t good work done earlier in the window by some of the top flight clubs, however, most supporters appear to be a bit underwhelmed.
Celtic fans – and, indeed Brendan Rodgers – didn’t get the striker they or he craved to fill the boots of Kyogo and instead it was a 32-year-old utility man loanee in the shape of Jeffrey Schlupp from Crystal Palace who arrived on deadline day. Fans of rivals Rangers won’t even get to see their deadline day signing until NEXT season after Lyall Cameron was announced on a pre-contract from Dundee.
But what about the rest. It was five in and eight out for Hearts while Hibs staved off relatively big money interest in striker Elie Youan from south of the border. St Johnstone had to do business as they look to get off the foot of the table and Aberdeen need to stop their alarming slide. Here, Record Sport looks at whether your squad is stronger or weaker after the January transfer window.
Aberdeen
Stronger or weaker? After 14 league games without a win, Jimmy Thelin had to do something in January and the Swede can’t have any excuses now after being backed by the Pittodrie board with six new faces at Pittodrie. With more than half of an entire new starting XI, they should be stronger.
Ins: Jeppe Okkels (Preston, loan), Kristers Tobers (Grasshoppers), Alfie Dorrington (Spurs, loan), Alexander Jensen (Brommapojkarna), Mats Knoester (free), Oday Dabbagh (loan with option, Charleroi)
Outs: Alfie Stewart (Inverness, loan) Alfie Bavidge (Inverness, loan), James McGarry (Athens Kallithea, loan), Angus MacDonald (freed), Duk (Leganes)
Celtic
Stronger or weaker? The Parkhead board have the luxury of pretty much achieving their goals for the season. The league is almost certainly in the bag along with the Premier Sports Cup and they progressed in the Champions League. BUT, Celtic fans – and presumably Brendan Rodgers – don’t want that to be the limit of their ambitions.
Jota is an upgrade on Luis Palma but the Hoops sold their top striker in Kyogo and didn’t replace him so they are weaker. Jeffrey Schlupp’s versatility means he can compensate for the loss of Alex Valle and Palma.
Ins: Dane Murray (Queen’s Park, end of loan) Jonny Kenny (Shamrock Rovers, end of loan). Jota (Rennes), Jeffrey Schlupp (Crystal Palace, loan)
Outs: Stephen Welsh (Mechelen), Lenny Agbaire (Ayr United, loan) Odin Thiago Holm (LAFC, loan), Alexandro Bernabei (Internacional), Aiden Haddow (Hearts), Kyogo (Rennes), Alex Valle (loan ended), Josh Dede (Middlesbrough), Luis Palma (Olympiacos)
Dundee
Stronger or weaker? The Dark Blues suffered the blow of learning Lyall Cameron had signed a pre-contract with Rangers but they won’t feel the effects of that until the summer. In the short term, they emerged stronger with the signing of Aaron Donnelly on a permenant deal and Imari Samuels from Brighton to add to the boost of extending Oluwaseun Adewumi’s loan from Burnley.
Ins: Sean Kelly (Karmiotissa FC), Aaron Donnelly (Nottingham Forest), Imari Samuels (Brighton), Oluwaseun Adewumi (loan extension, Burnley)
Outs: Sammy Braybrooke (Leicester CIty, loan recall), Curtis Main (released), Sean Kelly (freed)
Dundee United
Stronger or weaker? Three in and three out for the Tangerines means they are the same in terms of numbers but there’s no doubt Jim Goodwin has strengthened in his bid to finish best of the rest, with former Motherwell and Scotland Under-21 man Allan Campbell the pick of three recruits to complement two English loanees.
Ins: Ruari Paton, (Port Vale, loan), Lewis Fiorini (Stockport, loan), Allan Campbell (Charlton)
Outs: Jack Newman (Livingston, loan), Alan Domeracki (Norwich City), Miller Thomson (Falkirk, loan)
Hearts
Stronger or weaker? Evidence so far would suggest stronger, if not in terms of numbers but quality. A horror run over the festive period meant rapid improvement was needed at Tynecastle. An over-reliance on Lawrence Shankland for goals that had dried up meant a striker was top priority and Eton Kabangu’s arrival looks like it could solve that problem, with five in the first four games.
The on-loan Union Saint Gilloise man adds pace too. Jamie McCart has been a straight swap for Kye Rowles and has slotted in well, even netting his first goal for the club. Michael Steindwender is an unknown quantity, as is attacking midfielder Sander Kartum but there is faith that Jamestown Analytics has identified guys with the attributes Hearts need, while Harry Milne is solid cover for James Penrice.
Ins: Lewis Neilson (St Johnstone, recalled from loan), Elton Kabangu (Union SG, loan), Jamie McCart (Rotherham), Aidan Denholm (Ross County, loan recall), Aiden Haddow (Celtic), Michael Steinwender (Vernamo), Sander Kartum (Brann), Harry Milne (Partick Thistle)
Outs: Liam Boyce (Derry City), Kye Rowles (DC United), Macaulay Tait (loan, Livingston), Daniel Oyegoke (Hellas Verona), Ethan Drysdale (loan, Partick Thistle) Malachi Boateng (Plymouth Argyle)
Hibs
Stronger or weaker? The headline was about a man who stayed rather than anything else with Blackburn Rovers and Stoke City having bids turned down for Elie Youan, the latter being around £1.5m. The Easter Road club played hardball over the fee and any late departure would have left them up against it in terms of finding a replacement. David Gray’s side have been flying and are better with Youan so they are better with him and that is arguably their best bit of business and they are stronger for the addition of Alasana Manneh.
Ins: Alasana Manneh (Odense)
Out: Nohan Kenneh (Ross County loan), Josh O’Connor (Crusaders), Jake Doyle-Hayes (released), Malik Zaid (Edinburgh City, loan), Murray Johnston (Queen of the South, loan), Harry McKirdy (released), Luke Amos (released)
Kilmarnock
Stronger or weaker? Danny Armstrong remained at Rugby Park despite links with Hearts and there was a real coup in Calvin Ramsay arriving in Ayrshire on loan from English Premier League giants Liverpool, joined by another top flight loanee from south of the border in Tom Wilson-Brown. Killie are stronger.
Ins: Calvin Ramsay (Liverpool, loan), Tom Wilson-Brown (Leicester City, loan)
Outs: Jack Burroughs (Coventry, loan recall)
Motherwell
Stronger or weaker? The Steelmen lost a manager but it was busy in the other direction and the Lanarkshiremen are definitely stronger for six new arrivals, albeit all on loan. Now all they have to do is find a manager!
Ins: Kai Andrews (Coventry City, loan), Ellery Balcombe (Brentford, loan), Luke Armstrong (Carlisle, loan), Luke Plange (Crystal Palace, loan), Will Dickson (Man City, loan), Calum Ward (AC Oulu, loan)
Outs: Krisztian Hegyi (West Ham United, end of loan)
Rangers
Stronger or weaker? It’s pretty much as you were at Ibrox but the plan is clearly long term where Rangers are concerned. They are trying to lay foundations for the future as highlighted but the signing of Rafael Fernandes from Lille, initially on loan.
They also moved on non-contributors from the wage bill. Nothing earth shattering but splashing out on a loan signing similar to Fabio Silva 12 months ago would have served no real purpose given the title is almost certainly gone. Philippe Clement and the club will be looking at how their youngsters such as Bailey Rice and Findlay Curtis develop and Zak Lovelace is the only notable departure in that sense.
Ins: Rafael Fernandes (Lille, loan)
Outs: Robbie Fraser (Livingston, loan), Cole McKinnon (Ayr United, loan), Alex Lowry (Wycombe), Kieran Dowell (Birmingham City, loan), Adam Devine (Queen’s Park, loan), Rabbi Matondo (Hannover), Zak Lovelace (Millwall), Connor Allan (Falkirk)
Ross County
Stronger or weaker? The Staggies were busy in January and they had to be as they sit second bottom. It was a mix of new recruits and recalling youngsters from loan spells which should, on paper, set them up for the second half of the season.
Ins: Jordan Amissah (Sheff Utd), Nohan Kenneh (Hibs, loan), Kieran Phillips (Huddersfield Town), Dare Olufunwa (Hamilton, loan expired), Andrew MacLeod and George Robesten (Brora Rangers, both loan recall), Zac Ashworth (Blackpool, loan), Jonathan Tomkinson (Norwich City, loan)
Outs: Ali Morrison (Nain County, loan extended), Aidan Denholm (Hearts, loan recall), Eamonn Brophy (Falkirk, loan), Max Sheaf (Gateshead), Ricki Lamie (Hamilton, loan), Victor Loturi (FC Montreal), Jack Hamilton (Livingston)
St Johnstone
Stronger or weaker? The Perth side are the club who needed to do the most business and so it proved as they look to half themselves off the foot of the table. It was the first chance for Simo Valakari to put his stamp on the squad and recent results have got those around them worried. The Finn has been backed and are stronger – will he reap the ultimate reward with top flight safety?
Ins: Andy Fisher (Swansea, loan), Victor Griffith (Club Deportivo Arabe Unido), Jonathan Svedberg (Halmstads BK), Daniels Balodis (RFS), Elliot Watt (Burton Albion, loan), Stephen Duke-McKenna (Harrogate Town, loan), Zach Mitchell (Charlton, loan)
Outs: Lewis Neilson (Hearts, recalled from loan), Kyle Cameron (Notts County, loan return), David Keltjens (released), Jack Sanders (MK Dons), Josh Rae (Raith, loan)
St Mirren
Stronger or weaker? The Buddies reportedly missed out on a loan move for Celtic’s Johnny Kenny as the Hoops failed bid to land a striker had a knock-on effect after Kieran Offord moved to Linfield. They did get a right back in Ryan Alebiosu but the Paisley side are safe in the table – and played it that way in the window. Saints are weaker.
Ins: Declan John, Owen Oseni (Gateshead), Zach Hemming (Middlesbrough, loan), Ryan Alebiosu (K.V. Kortrijk)
Outs: Shaun Rooney (released), Jaden Brown (released), Ellery Balcombe (Brentford, end of loan), Kieran Offord (Linfield), Charles Dunne (Coleraine)