The January transfer window is fast approaching, with clubs up and down the country looking for cost-effective ways to bolster their squads for the second portion of the season. When it comes to EFL clubs, there is sometimes a smaller talent pool available as other clubs are reluctant to let players go in the middle of the season if they don’t have a replacement lined up. This is where free transfers can be highly effective, as they are much better for clubs financially.
Sure, clubs can and do sign free-agent players outside of the transfer window, but the likelihood of this happening increases in January as clubs have strategically planned where they need to strengthen. This scout report will highlight four players who have recently been released by Premier League and Championship clubs, with the tactical analysis looking at what EFL team(s) they could be an option for due to their technical strengths and ability to fit the team’s tactics.
Hélder Costa
Hélder Costa is probably the most high-profile player on this list, yet he could also be the biggest gamble should a return to England be on the cards. His first taste of English football came in 2016 when he joined Wolverhampton Wanderers, a Championship club at the time – an initial loan spell that led to a permanent transfer worth £13m. Costa helped Wolves return to the Premier League in 17/18 with 11 G/A that season.
Fast forward two (and a bit) years, and the winger makes the switch to Leeds United, who were also a Championship club at the time. A similar cycle unfolded as Costa contributed 10 G/A to help Leeds gain promotion to the top flight – the Yorkshire club then paid £14.8m for his services on a permanent basis. For one reason or another, things simply went downhill from there, with the now 29-year-old spending the 2022/23 campaign out on loan in the Saudi Pro League.
His data, in comparison to other players in his position in a league of a similar level, paints the picture of an individual who offers a contribution for sure but needs a bit of luck and the right break to get back to his best again. Not only does he rank above average for certain passing metrics, but he also has a high involvement when it comes to dribbles and touches in the box – an indication of a clear attacking threat.
In the 18 appearances he made for Al Ittihad, a team that now includes the likes of Karim Benzema and Fabinho, Hélder Costa averaged 5.4 dribbles per 90 with a success rate of 58% – both stats ranked among the top 30 in the league last season.
If a return to English football was on the cards in the near future, Premier League teams would likely be reluctant to take a chance on Hélder Costa. However, a few teams towards the bottom of the table may be interested in the view of adding a boost to their attacking ranks.
A more likely outcome is a move to a top-end Championship club who can afford his wages. Leicester is an obvious one that ticks that box, and there is the potential of him adding a different dynamic to that Foxes team, but with his dribbling tendencies, he might be more suited to someone like Southampton, who rank third in the league for 1v1s/dribbles per 90.
Connor Wickham
Striker Connor Wickham has always been one that divides opinion among football fans. Some will focus on his low goal contribution rate – scoring 42 goals in 159 games when playing as a CF, while others will praise his physical presence, work rate, and ability to get involved in build-up phases. He also has experience in League One and the Championship, as well as over 100 Premier League appearances, so he brings a certain level of game knowledge, too.
Most recently, he was in the Championship with Cardiff City in the second half of the season, although he only scored once in 12 games. He found more success in the first half of the season in League One with Forest Green Rovers, where he bagged nine goals in 20 games in all competitions for a team that was really struggling and was eventually relegated, showing that he can add to a poor attacking unit.
The data presented above represents his time at Forest Green only and does not include data from his time at Cardiff.
Standing at 6 ft 2, Wickham adds a certain aerial threat high up the pitch, as evidenced by his high percentile ranking for aerial duels won % (compared to teams between tier 5-7 in TFA’s tier system), showing the ability and consistency to be effective in the air. This trait is still vital to most clubs within the EFL.
As we mentioned, his goal contribution is not the highest. Still, as you can see from his pass percentile ranks, he is capable of getting involved with build-up play, with a high tendency to drop in deep to receive the ball before quickly releasing it to a supporting teammate.
His heatmap from his time at Forest Green solidifies the notion that he drops deeper in various areas to be a part of the earlier possession phases. His ability to play out on the left wing certainly plays a part in this, but the fact that he is willing to put the work in to get into areas that help his team is a fundamental trait and one that, if he leans into it, will make him a fan favourite at the right level.
Aged 30, Wickham still has a few years left on the clock, but League One is likely his level, with a possible drop into League Two in a couple of years. His goal contribution at Forest Green last season was an indication that he has quality to offer in League One, and with a better quality of teammates around him, he could add more goals. He wouldn’t be out of place in a team chasing the playoffs who need a boost in attack – teams like Stevenage, Wigan Athletic, or Lincoln City could be a great fit for Connor Wickham.
Jack Simpson
The second player who has recently been released by Championship club Cardiff City, centre-back Jack Simpson is the second-youngest player on this list, currently 27 years old. The former England U21 international showed promise early in his career but has yet to have an entire season with a club regarding the number of games he appears in.
Last season was his highest game tally, making 19 appearances for the Bluebirds, and he has even played once this season before his release. Simpson started his career with AFC Bournemouth, where he made just 35 appearances over six seasons, including 11 Premier League appearances.
Additionally, Simpson spent a couple of years with Scottish Premiership giants Rangers but only managed 14 appearances in all competitions. While naturally a central defender, Simpson can also play as a left-back, where a lot of his football was played last season.
His lack of consistent game time makes it slightly difficult to come to a solid verdict in terms of analysing his data in the image above. For example, his low percentile rank for defensive duels is likely also impacted by the minutes he spent playing at LB/LWB. His ability to provide dangerous passes and execute dribbles is a big bonus, though, and in the right tactical setting, it could be unlocked regardless of his position.
Simpson’s map of progressive passes reflects the fact that he played as at LB/LWB for a good portion of his game time in 2022/23, but also tells us more about the creative side of his game. Not only can the former Rangers man make effective progressive passes down his own flank, but he also shows the ability to make diagonal passes and dangerous passes into the final third.
Many teams will be on the lookout for a versatile defender, and Simpson should be willing to drop into League One, even for just the short term, to give him the best chance of getting consistent game time, something he desperately needs. He does have quality, though, so it is in his best interest to be at a team who are playoff/promotion contenders and need a bit of help improving their defensive records – Blackpool or Bolton Wanderers fit this description and could be a good setting for Jack Simpson to prove what he is about.
Josh Onoma
Another former England U21 international, central midfielder Josh Onoma, was most recently at Preston North End in the Championship. His stay at Deepdale was somewhat short, joining the club in January 2023 before being released in July, making 13 appearances in this window. Onomah was once a player of huge potential, making 32 first-team appearances for Tottenham Hotspur in all competitions.
He was also an important figure in Aston Villa’s 2017/18 Championship campaign. In 2019, Onomah would go on to join the team that beat Villa in the playoff final in 2018 – Fulham, where he was again an influential member of the team that saw Fulham gain promotion to the Premier League. His game time at Craven Cottage was limited in the three seasons that followed, which was a decisive factor in his departure.
If you haven’t watched Josh Onomah before, you can get a good idea of his role and style from the data above. A tough, defensive-minded midfielder capable of carrying the ball forward and getting involved with possession phases high up the pitch. His defensive duels rate in the short amount of game time he had at PNE last season was exceptional, and he will be a significant asset to whichever team he signs for.
As we mentioned, Onomah has the ability to carry the ball, both out of deep areas and in higher areas, into the box, as evidenced by the visual above. His versatility on the ball can be influential in attack as he has shown the ability to make penetrating dribbles on both sides of the box as well as through the centre.
Onomah is the youngest player on the list (26 years old) and could still be an excellent Championship player. But he faces a similar problem to every player on this list – he needs a full season at a club with regular game time. For that to happen, a drop into League One should not be off the table – a top-end League One club like Portsmouth, Derby, or Bolton, for example, could really help Onomah get back to his best. Moving to a mid-to-low-end Championship club is a more realistic outcome due to the number of clubs needing defensively capable midfielders and Onomah’s quality – teams like Stoke City and Bristol City have been linked to the midfielder in recent months.
Conclusion
We have highlighted just four good options in the free agent market, but in truth, there is an abundance of talent waiting to be snapped up by EFL clubs. Of course, the players mentioned in this analysis could sign for another club, the EFL, or even move abroad, but we have made suggestions based on the team’s needs and the players’ styles and abilities.
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