Columnists

Simon Grayson: January window can be the difference for EFL promotion chasers

What happens in the transfer market over the next month or so can make or break your season

by
Simon Grayson
21 December 2025

What happens in the transfer market over the next month or so can make or break your season.
When I was trying to get Preston promoted from League One in 2014-15, we signed Jermaine Beckford on loan from Bolton at the back end of November.
They were in the Championship at the time and were managed by Neil Lennon, who’d I’d played with at Leicester.
I’d actually rung Neil about a different player and he said, ‘No chance – but you can have Jermaine if you want’.

KEY: Jermaine Beckford’s goals helped fire Simon Grayson’s Preston to promotion
PICTURES: Alamy
Strengthen
I jumped at the chance,...

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