Welsh Transfer Window Rumours 1st January Part 2

Kyle Letherhen to ?
Kyle Letheren has been released by Plymouth Argyle after his contract came to an end. He was only signed short-term to sit on the bench and cover while their usual second-string goalkeeper was injured. No word yet on whether he’s likely to join another club in the near future but it’s hard to believe that a keeper who’s good enough to sit on a Championship bench should have too much trouble finding a new club.

Adam Matthews to Manchester United or Arsenal
Manchester United have apparently beaten Arsenal to the signing of Adam Matthews but as this was announced at least a week before the transfer window opened, I can’t take this too seriously. Besides, Adam might choose to go to Arsenal like Aaron Ramsey did. If Adam goes to Arsenal, he’ll be guaranteed Carling Cup and possibly FA Cup appearances (next season), he will also have chances to play in Premier League and Champions’ League games against weaker opposition. This might also happen if he plays for Manchester United but it’s not guaranteed. Also, Man U already have a young right back in Rafael and he is behind about three (admittedly injury prone) right backs in the pecking order. At Arsenal, Adam will be behind Bacary Sagna and Emmanuel Eboué, who might be playing right wing anyway.
Most of all though, I think I’d like to see him stay as Cardiff City. He’s quality and Cardiff really need some of that at the moment. And Cardiff are giving him regular, if not weekly, first team games.

Shaun MacDonald to Yeovil (loan)
Yeovil wanted to extend Shaun MacDonald’s loan but Swansea wanted him back. But as he hasn’t even been on the bench for Swansea yet it’s not impossible Yeovil will get their way and get him back.

Craig Morgan to Notts County
Notts County are aiming high – or at least as high as the bottom of the Championship. Craig Morgan doesn’t seem to be a manager’s favourite at Peterborough United, apparently preferring to play him only when needed. Not many players would willingly give up Championship football in favour of League Two, even if the chances are he’ll be playing League One football whichever club he’s at. Notts County are a bigger club than Peterborough with a bigger history but they do seem to be in quite a big mess.

Lewis Price to ?
I’m not quite sure what’s happening with Lewis Price. First he was Brentford’s first-choice keeper. Then he was dropped from the squad completely and Derby were making noises about wanting him back. Now Lewis is back between the sticks and Derby have gone quiet but with Wojciech Szczęsny apparently preferred when fit, who knows what’s going to happen?

Anthony Pulis to Lincoln City (loan)
Anthony Pulis has been on-loan at Lincoln for a while but he has not featured for a while due to injury. It was thought his loan would come to an end before he recovered but that Lincoln would get him back for another loan when he was better.

Ryan Shawcross to Manchester United
Two years ago, Manchester United sold Ryan Shawcross to Stoke on the grounds that he wasn’t good enough for them. A season and a half for Stoke in the Premier League and Man Utd are beginning to think that maybe they made a bit of a mistake. But Stoke don’t want to sell him and Ryan seems more interested in regular football with Stoke than Manchester United’s wage bill.

Brian Stock to Cardiff City
Brian Stock has hardly played for Doncaster Rovers this season due to injury but Cardiff are still interested in this strong and influential midfield player. And especially with Joe Ledley going off to have an operation, Cardiff really need one of those. Doncaster are doing amazingly well but you can’t really imagine them in the Premier League – which is (if they stop giving up 4-goal leads) more of a possibility for Cardiff.

Ben Thatcher to ?
Roy Keane insists the only reason Ben Thatcher isn’t playing for Ipswich Town is because he has a knee injury. Well fair enough. But there are rumblings that two of football’s biggest hotheads don’t get on terribly well and that Ben refused to adhere to Roy’s rule that all players must live within a certain distance from the training ground. You can’t blame a manager for putting a player on the transfer list if this is true. But how many clubs would be interested in an injured hothead?

Ashley Williams to Wigan Athletic
Just as former Wigan boss Steve Bruce has buying all his old Wigan recruits for Sunderland, Roberto Martinez has been raiding his own club Swansea. And next on his list seems to be centre back Ashley Williams, who has lately been captain of both Swansea and Wales. No word on whether Ashley is happy to go – it depends on whether he prefers a relegation battle he has a good chance of surviving or a promotion battle that might come to nothing.