After another dour showing which made it eight defeats in 10 for Tranmere, transfer deadline day could be a defining one as far as the rest of the season is concerned.
There is a lot of speculation online about who could come in or indeed leave in the next 24 hours, but before going into that, let’s look at what Tranmere may need to do. Andy Crosby suggested in his post-match interview on Saturday that Rovers are close to making two new signings, with a loan and a permanent deal all-but agreed.
As of Sunday night, we now know the permanent deal is Lewis Warrington after the midfielder joined Rovers on a two-and-a-half-year contract.
Much of the focus for Crosby will likely be on improving a shambolic defence. With the likes of Cameron Norman, Patrick Brough and Nathan Smith looking worse with every passing game, Rovers could definitely use an experienced centre back.
However, Tranmere’s budget won’t go very far, so the fix may instead be implemented to central midfield to try and protect those creaky defenders. Last week’s signing of James Plant from Port Vale may see him go in at right-wing back in place of Norman, leaving those in front of the backline in focus.
Warrington is one player through the door who may help with covering the defenders, but he may not be the only midfielder coming in though.
Goalkeeper is a position you feel we could really do with some a first team-ready keeper to come in, but again, veteran player-coach Joe Murphy is likely to be considered good enough to continue to deputise for Luke McGee until the summer.
Finally, a striker must now be a pressing matter for the club to address also. In the space of five days, an already lacklustre set of forward options has been descimated. Veteran Connor Jennings succumbed to a horror injury at Barnet and won’t be back until well into next season, while Josh Davison was loaned to Cheltenham.
On-loan Norwich City youngster Dylan Jones started alongside Kristian Dennis on Saturday, but Jones was withdrawn in the second half with what looked like a hamstring injury. That leaves Dennis and Joe Ironside as the only options, neither with any pace. When partnered together yesterday, the lack of pace and danger offered by the pair changed the game in Salford’s favour.
Rovers urgently need to inject some pace into the team.
Potential outgoings
Tranmere aren’t flush with cash, and with the takeover dragging from window-to-window, the recruitment will continue to be tempered by who Rovers move out.
Perhaps the most significant is the speculation to come from yesterday’s game is that of the potential impending departure of star winger Omari Patrick. Patrick has six goals to his name this season, and while his form hasn’t been great the last few months, he has carried an injury for much of the season. His heroics last season helped Rovers avoid relegation.
But despite returning to fitness last week at Cambridge, Patrick didn’t even make the bench yesterday, leading to suggestions he would be leaving. Those same rumours pinpoint Gillingham as his most likely suitors, but we are also hearing that Crawley have long held an interest in Patrick, so deadline day will be interesting.
There probably isn’t a player in the squad who Rovers wouldn’t entertain offers for, but we understand Nohan Kenneh is one who there has been an enquiry for this month, while Sol Solomon may also move out on loan. Don’t be surprised if Tranmere also manage to move Richie Smallwood on. The veteran midfielder has had a pretty miserable few months at Prenton Park thus far, and at least one League Two club and one National League club are interested.
Incomings
From absolutely nowhere, social media was abuzz last night with suggestions that former loanee Lewis Warrington is on the brink of rejoining the club on a permanent deal from Walsall (now confirmed). The 23-year-old has struggled to make an impression with the Saddlers this season after joining from Leyton Orient in the summer.
He managed only eight games for Orient last season before being loan to Salford where he played 16 times.
In his time on loan with Tranmere from Everton back in 2022, Lewis played 17 times, scoring once. He was solid enough, if not spectacular, but you do feel that his energy and ability on the ball would be a significant upgrade on anything we have now. Crucially, he will offer some protection to the weak backline.
Crosby claimed Rovers are also close to a loan signing. The only rumour that has surfaced on that front is from an unofficial Leyton Orient social media feed that suggests 21-year-old midfielder Zech Obiero could be on his way here.
It could be an interesting day at Prenton Park tomorrow, with multiple comings and goings possible.
