We’re approaching the halfway stage of the season, and you know what that means. It’s time for the teams at the top of the Championship to panic as teams in the Premier League poise themselves to swoop in, steal their best players and destroy their promotion charge.
Who can blame them when you see what the likes of James Maddison, Eberechi Eze and Adam Wharton have been able to do since making the step up. So which players in particular will topflight sides be looking at, and will they actually make the move in January?
Viktor Johansson
Viktor Johansson has been one of the best goalkeepers in the Championship for several seasons now. Even though he finished bottom of the league, twenty-four points from safety with Rotherham United during the 2023/24 season, his strong performances earned him a move to Stoke City where he has also stood out.
This season, the Swede has helped the Potters to 2nd place in the league table after fourteen games. Additionally, he has the highest save percentage in the league (82%), has kept the joint most clean sheets (6) and has prevented the second most goals (4.4).
Johansson has been linked with a move to the Premier League before, with West Ham reportedly interested in his services last summer, so it seems like a matter of when, not if, the 27-year-old will be a Premier League player. Will that be with Stoke?
Only time will tell.
Dael Fry
Considering that Dael Fry represented England at several youth levels, it’s surprising that he has never played in the Premier League, but he may get his chance soon. Middlesborough are very much in the promotion race, and their strong defence has been a key part in achieving that.
Only Stoke and Charlton have conceded fewer goals than Boro’s twelve and they have kept the joint second most clean sheets (5). One thing that could derail their promotion charge is the departure of manager Rob Edwards who is one of the favourites to land the vacant Wolves job.
Even if Boro aren’t promoted, teams in the Premier League could certainly do worse than Fry. His injury record might put teams off but at 28 years of age he is in his prime and if Edwards does secure the gig at Molineux, I could see Fry not being far behind.
Imran Louza
Watford have been their usual volatile selves so far this season, sacking Paulo Pezzolano after only ten games in charge. But one thing that has stayed consistent is Imran Louza’s brilliant performances.
The Moroccan has the joint third most goal contributions in the division with eight. His six goals are more than the likes of George Hirst, Josh Sargent, and Adam Armstrong have managed and is not bettered by any other midfielders.
The Hornets currently find themselves 12th in the table, well clear of the relegation zone and four points off of a playoff place. Will they get there?
I personally don’t think so given the quality of the teams around and above them, as well as the fact that they are so poor away from home.
Brandon Thomas-Asante
Given how impressive Coventry City have been so far this season, it would be easy to include their entire team, but I’ll give the final spot to Brandon Thomas-Asante. The 26-year-old is the league’s top goalscorer with ten goals, and he also has the most goal contributions in the league with thirteen.
Interestingly, Thomas-Asante hasn’t been the subject of much transfer speculation. Rather, his teammate Haji Wright has been heavily linked with a move to Leeds United.
It’s easy to see why as Wright has eight goals and one assist to his name so far this season. Furthermore, given his height and physical presence, Wright would certainly be more suited to the way that Leeds play.
But it is not just their players who are highly sought after, as manager Frank Lampard has also been linked with a move back to the Premier League. Coventry are currently four points clear at the top of the Championship, only tasting defeat once in fourteen games and have a goal difference fourteen goals better than the rest of the division.
So why would you want to leave a team seemingly destined for promotion and try your luck on a Premier League team who could well be relegated?
