What can we expect in January?

In previous years under Roberto Martinez, activity in the transfer window specifically January has been weak to say the least. With promotion slowly becoming more realistic, there are a couple of areas in my view Uwe Rosler should look to improve in January.

I think the major area we need to "splash the cash" on is the goal scoring department. It has become apparent in the past few games under the new gaffer that we cannot put the ball in the back net, and with the future of Nick Powell still uncertain, Rosler has to be looking at a new striker even if Powell does see out his loan till the end of the season.

Despite his previous goal scoring record and status, £2 million man Grant Holt has fallen way short of expectations, his fitness levels have been a problem due to his injury and Coyle not doing enough to help the big man. His inability to win headers and score goals have made him fairly useless up front this year but the lack of service has shifted some of the blame elsewhere, you don't give a striker like Holt the service he isn't going to score goals. The same sort of example lies with Jordi Gomez, personally I really like the man, technically our best player and passes the ball with ease but a constant problem for Wigan that a lot of people have spotted in the 0-0 on Boxing Day there is a serious lack of movement and options in the last 1/3 of the pitch, you don't give the options for Gomez to pass to, he will ultimately get ran off the ball.

With that little rant over back to transfers. Jordan Rhodes is the name on everybody's lips. Blackburn turned down a £6 million bid in Summer. It ultimately ended up with United's late bid for Marouane Fellaini why Coyle couldn't put in a serious bid for the goal scorer. It was said that the McCarthy money and wages would go straight back into Owen Coyle's kitty so is this the time Uwe Rosler will put in a a double figure bid for the Englishman? Rhodes has been linked with a move away from Ewood Park for a long time now given the financial state of the Venkys. Will the financial benefits of the £9million plus they could get for striker be more important than keeping hold of him for a feeble push for the play-offs? Wigan face competition from a series of Premier League Clubs but would he be ready for the step up to the big time just yet?

I think another area we should look ti bring players in at is Left Back. I'm a big believer in players being played in their correct positions and that is why at this point, I would be playing Stephen Crainey every week, Beausejour, Espinoza or McCan should not be playing at Left Back no matter how badly people think Stephen Crainey plays. I've not heard a massive amount about this Garcia, he had a good game in the 5-0 defeat at the Ethiad so in my view I would be giving him a run in the the team? I have no idea if Rosler has the same mind set as myself but this is what I think.

Whether this is just all rumour based is another story but Uwe Rosler told BBC Sport that he was looking to build for the future in January:

"I would like to do something but we also have to think about the immediate and long-term future of our football club,"

"We have players running out of contract and we have to think about the financial value of those players. We have to make decisions that go beyond this season."

"When I came here, we scored a lot of goals but the team needed guidance and a bit of structure,"

"The players are happy with me giving them that. The longer we work with each other and the more time we have for proper training sessions, the more open we will get and we will score goals."

Ryan Shotton and Will Keane returned to their respective clubs this week leaving Rosler short of options at the back even with 3 clean consecutive sheets and an ever lasting goal scoring problem, But they couldn't be the only players to leave Wigan during the window.

There 2 or 3 players that could be seeking moves away from the club this month with Nick Powell being the one that everybody is talking about. Callum McManaman and maybe Shaun Maloney will be wearing a different shirt come 1st February.

Nick Powell's future has been in doubt in the past few weeks with rumors speculating that United Boss David Moyes is ready to recall Powell and send him out on loan again but this time to a Premier League club with Hull City being his preferred destination despite interest from Swansea City. Reports are revealing that Rosler is turning to former club Man City for promising striker John Guidetti should Powell return to Man United, holding talks with David Moyes, Rosler says the future of Powell will be decided in the next few weeks. Rosler had this to say on the matter to the Wigan Evening Post:

"I have had more good dialogue with David Moyes and I know where we are.
"That's all I can say for now. But look at my face - I am smiling - so that tells you it's not the worst news. That says something."

This might just be me but Callum McManaman looks like a player who can't wait to leave. He's been generally poor this season with his performances rising to hit and miss under Rosler, will the England u21 international be on his way out? Judging by what happened in Summer, will a deal be done to shift him on to Goodison Park? there have been reports with McManaman and Maloney linking the midfielders with moves away to Roberto Martinez's Everton but the question is with Ross Barkley and Seamus Coleman in blistering form for the Toffee's this season, will the Wigan duo feature for the high flyers on Merseyside?

Make of this what you will, but a lot of this to me seems realistic with some reports suggesting Bradford's Nahki Wells, Arsenal's Serge Gnabry and a raid of Uwe Rosler's old club Brentford, expect to see changes at the club during the window.