By Gareth James
Swansea City failed to sign a single player in the January transfer window after the club’s plan to bring in West Bromwich Albion striker Karlan Grant on loan backfired.
In the dying minutes of Tuesday night’s window, Swansea’s attempt to secure a loan for the West Brom forward fell through.
The deal was expected to see Grant join the Swans on loan for the remainder of the season – filling some of the gaps exposed by the six players who have left the club this month.
But the move was called off shortly before the Tuesday night deadline. Grant, who has scored 22 goals in 86 appearances for West Brom and five this season, had previously joined the club from Huddersfield Town in 2020 for £15 million.
Despite being willing to loan Grant, West Brom failed to bring in a replacement before the deadline and were therefore unable to release the striker.
Albion were hoping to bring in Chelsea teenager Omari Hutchinson on loan from Stamford Bridge, but a deal could not be finalised.
It resulted in Swansea failing to sign a player in January, dashing head coach Russell Martin’s hopes of boosting the squad for a potential play-off push.
That, Swansea City, is an absolute s***show of a window.
The incoming transfer activity in January came down to a loan that was dependent on another loan, on deadline day – always deadline day.
Can only be honest about how I feel as a fan: there is zero hope under these owners.— Stuart James (@stujames75) February 1, 2023
The Swans recently allowed Michael Obafemi to join Burnley and saw several players depart on loan, but did recall Morgan Whittaker from Plymouth and rejected bids from Rangers for the young forward.
Obafemi (loan to Burnley), Nathanael Ogbeta (loan to Peterborough United), Brandon Cooper (loan to Forest Green Rovers), Armstrong Oko-Flex (recalled by West Ham United), Fin Stevens (recalled by Brentford) and Jordon Garrick (sold to Forest Green Rovers after recall from Lincoln City) all left Swansea in January.
Cardiff City secured the loan of striker Sory Kaba from Danish club Midtjylland until the end of the current season.
The 27-year-old Guinea international, who had been on the club’s radar for a while, started his career in Spain with Alcobendas and Elche before moving to Dijon in France.
He joined Midtjylland in 2019, where he played a key role in their league title win, and spent last season on loan at Belgian side OH Leuven, scoring 10 goals.
Welcome to #CardiffCity, @Sorykaba2! 💙#CityAsOne
— Cardiff City FC (@CardiffCityFC) January 31, 2023
This season, Kaba has contributed three goals for Midtjylland and has participated in their Europa League campaign.
Newport County has concluded their transfer activity by acquiring striker Calum Kavanagh on loan from Middlesbrough until the end of the season.
The 19-year-old Republic of Ireland youth international joined Rodney Parade as the second forward in the in-tray, following in the footsteps of Manchester United’s Charlie McNeill.
Kavanagh, who is the son of former Cardiff City great Graham, spent the second half of last season on loan at Harrogate Town.