There could be one or two moves for Irish players on deadline day.
The January transfer window closes on Monday evening for clubs in the UK, and there is still time for a few Republic of Ireland players to get a move for the second half of the season.
Irish players such as Matt Doherty, Jeff Hendrick and Jamie McGrath have been linked with transfers for the past few weeks.
Here are the Irish players who could be on the move today, and the Irish players most likely to secure transfers.
The Irish players who could be on the move before the transfer window closes.
Matt Doherty – Tottenham Hotspur.
Doherty was initially frozen out under Antonio Conte, but the Dubliner has featured in Tottenham’s last two games. The Ireland international registered an assist in the dramatic win over Leicester City and started Spurs’ 2-0 defeat against Chelsea.
However, despite returning to the team, it would not be a surprise to see Doherty, 30, leave Tottenham before the window closes.
Tottenham tried and failed to sign Adama Traore from Wolves, missing out on the player to Barcelona. If that move happened, Doherty would most likely have left Spurs by now.
The Irishman could still depart north London today if Spurs can find a replacement right wing-back. If not, he may get a chance to earn a regular starting spot under Conte.
👋Tottenham Hotspur boss Antonio Conte hopes that the following Spurs players will depart either on loan or permanently this January window:
🇫🇷 Tanguy Ndombele
🇦🇷 Giovani Lo Celso
🏴 Dele Alli
🇮🇪 Matt Doherty
🏴 Joe Rodon
🏴 Japhet Tanganga#THFC | #COYSpic.twitter.com/Gl58fYvqpR— Last Word On Spurs (@LastWordOnSpurs) January 25, 2022
Jeff Hendrick – Newcastle United.
Hendrick has barely played for the Magpies this season and has yet to start a game under manager Eddie Howe. In fact, the midfielder has only featured for 10 minutes of first-team football under Howe.
The Magpies signed Brazilian midfielder Bruno Guimarães from Lyon last week, a transfer that has pushed Hendrick, 30, further down the pecking order.
Championship side Middlesbrough are understood to be interested in taking the Ireland international on loan.
NUFC goalkeeper Freddie Woodman is in the building at Bournemouth ahead of loan move. That frees up one squad place, but more needed. Hendrick/Clark linked with Boro but no movement yet. Talk of Lewis loan, too. Howe would prefer not to have unregistered players still at club.
— Craig Hope (@CraigHope_DM) January 31, 2022
Ciaran Clark – Newcastle.
The defender, who has played 36 times for Ireland, has only featured in five Premier League games since Howe was appointed manager in November. If Newcastle can sign a central defender before the window closes, Clark may head for the St James’ Park exit door,
Darren Randolph – West Ham.
Randolph is the Hammers’ third-choice goalkeeper and has only made the bench for one Premier League game this season. If Randolph is to regain his place in the Ireland squad and add to his 50 caps, a loan move until the end of the season may be required.
Randolph has proven his quality at Premier League, Championship and international level, and would be a good fit for any top-half Championship side seeking a dependable number one. Whether West Ham, who are still involved in three competitions, would sanction a move is, however, debatable.
Festy Ebosele – Derby County.
The Ireland Under-21 international is highly rated, and Derby’s financial troubles mean they may be forced to sell players before the January transfer window closes. Ebosele has caught the eye of three Bundesliga clubs and a Serie A team. Derby also rejected an offer for the full-back from Nottingham Forest worth £500,000.
Jason Knight – Derby County.
Three Premier League clubs – Leeds United, Newcastle United and Burnley – were understood to be interested in signing Knight before the window closes. The Ireland midfielder, 20, is valued at around €9.5m, and Derby may be under financial pressure to sell players.
Knight has played over 100 times for Wayne Rooney’s team and appears ready to take the next step in his career. But a summer move looks more likely.
Burnley, Newcastle and Leeds are all said to be interested in signing the Irish midfielder.https://t.co/ubiu6Kwkfv
— SportsJOE (@SportsJOEdotie) January 17, 2022
Wes Hoolahan – Cambridge United.
Hoolahan is a cult hero at Cambridge and helped the club earn promotion to League One last season. The midfielder also played a role in the team’s shock victory over Newcastle United in the FA Cup earlier this month.
Shelbourne are said to be keen on signing Hoolahan, and the Irish midfielder, who turns 40 in May, would reportedly be open to joining Damien Duff’s team. A move in the summer, however, appears more likely.
Daryl Horgan – Wycombe Wanderers.
Horgan has not started a league game for Wycombe since October. The Ireland winger has been limited to appearances off the bench for the League One side and may need a move to keep his place in Kenny’s Ireland squad.
Jamie McGrath – St Mirren.
McGrath looked set to join Aberdeen earlier in the window, only for the deal to be called off at the last minute. The Irish midfielder, however, could still be on the move, with Hibernian reportedly set to sign him on deadline day.
McGrath, who is out of contract with St Mirren at the end of the season, almost joined Hibs last summer and has been tracked by several clubs, including Birmingham City and Wigan Athletic. The former Dundalk midfielder, 25, looks almost certain to leave St Mirren today.
According to The Daily Record, Hibs will pay £150,000 and include midfielder Alex Gogic in the deal for McGrath.
