As always, with the New Year comes the opening of the January transfer window.
For certain Scottish Premiership clubs it couldn’t come quick enough with Hearts and St Johnstone in relegation trouble and needing to inject some quality into their sides.
Hibs have picked up but aren’t completely out of the woods and will be looking to do business while Aberdeen are targeting signings after their form fell off a cliff.
St Mirren have already done the first deal of the month early this morning but there should be plenty more where that came from.
Here is Not the Old Firm’s first January transfer bulletin at the start of a busy month.
Aberdeen
Aberdeen need to some signings in January to make up for some of the injury issues they have been having at the same time as slumping to an eight-game winless streak.
Grasshoppers defender Kristers Tobers is their main target after Not the Old Firm exclusively revealed the Dons had tabled an early offer for the Latvia captain.
We also told how the Pittodrie men would have to pay around £700,000 for Tobers, who is a centre half but can also operate in midfield.
Manager Jimmy Thelin will be looking to do further deals and said in his latest update: “We’re working on things, not only for the injuries, but also trying to progress as a team for the long term.
“Sometimes you have short-term problems, but also you must not forget what you want to build over time.
“That’s why you try to find the right ones for the longer term also.”
Meanwhile, Aberdeen will receive £600,000 from Rangers for Connor Barron after an SPFL tribunal finally set the fee for his summer move.
Hearts
Hearts are poised to confirm Elton Kabangu as a loan signing from Union Saint-Gilloise, with the player already in Edinburgh and paper work being finalised.
The Belgian forward is out of favour at the club part owned by prospective Jambos investor Tony Bloom and they have sanctioned his exit as he searches for game time.
Hearts desperately need an injection of pace and attacking quality and plan to play the versatile forward as a striker.
They have also been linked with a transfer swoop for Jamie McCart. The former St Johnstone is still with Rotherham after leaving McDiarmid Park for them and has had loans with Leyton Orient and Barnsley in between.
Daniel Armstrong has also been mentioned as his Kilmarnock contract winds down. Killie boss Derek McInnes directly addressed the Hearts links at the same time as confirming the winger would leave Rugby Park.
Hibs
We exclusively revealed earlier this month that Hibs would be targeting a goalkeeper in January as well as a striker and an attacking midfielder.
A surprise link to Hearts’ Zander Clark, who is available on a pre-contract, emerged while Rotherham’s Cameron Dawson is an option for this month.
Meanwhile, Luke Amos looks set to depart the Hibees as he confirmed he hoped to find a new club during the winter window.
Manager David Gray discussed the timeline for incomings and said: ” I’d imagine it to be later on in the window, as again it’ll probably come down to what can be done, what the options are.
“Naturally, you’ll always have ins, you’ll always have outs. Some players are maybe not playing enough football or will look to try and seek opportunities elsewhere.
“And then you need to be proactive and ready for players showing, teams showing an interest in your players as well, so nothing can be done whilst the window’s closed.
“But the minute that opens you need to be ready for that. That’s the hard work that’s been constantly going on at the football club.”
Other January transfer deals
St Mirren concluded the first deal of the month when they signed young goalscorer Owen Oseni from Gateshead today.
We revealed yesterday that the Buddies had won the race after beating off competition from Premiership rivals Motherwell and teams in England.
Dundee will be keeping hold of Burnley loan star Seun Adewumi, Tony Docherty confirmed.
The Dee boss said: “We are in constant talks with our recruitment team and we are in constant talks with Burnley as well. Adewumi is fine and continuing to play.
“There hasn’t been any paperwork done on it but we have assurances that Adewumi will be with us. That is fantastic news for us. You are now seeing Seun is a really talented player.”
Meanwhile, Ross County are eyeing a move for Oldham goalkeeper Mathew Hudson, but that is likely to be on a pre-contract.
Things are yet to heat up as we remain on New Year’s Day but the rest of the clubs will soon get into the swing of this, with the likes of St Johnstone in desperate need of some help.