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Opinion

Five free agents that Championship clubs should be targeting now that the transfer window is closed

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The transfer window is now closed and teams have done their business until January, or have they?

All 24 Championship sides made plenty of signings, including Sheffield Wednesday, despite their EFL restrictions.

Clubs like Leicester City left it late to bring any sort of incomings in and then the likes of Norwich City and Southampton did plenty of their business early.

For some teams though, they still won’t be fully satisfied with their squads and may turn to the free agent market to bolster their squads.

Here, EFL Analysis has picked out five free agents that could be a shrewd pick-up for a Championship club.

Dele Alli warms up before Como's game against Parma
Photo by Emmanuele Ciancaglini/Ciancaphoto Studio/Getty Images

Dele Alli

We don’t need to talk about Dele Alli’s career, it’s well documented.

Dele’s Como contract was cancelled by mutual consent and he is in desperate need of reigniting his career.

Moving abroad hasn’t done that and although eyes would be on him in the Championship, starting over again in more familiar territory may be the boost he needs.

Despite his struggles, there are plenty of Championship clubs who would want to bring him in and be the side that helped him get back to his best.

Kurt Zouma

Kurt Zouma during West Ham United's pre-season friendly vs Dagenham & Redbridge
Photo by Rob Newell – CameraSport via Getty Images

One for some of the sides competing in the upper echelons of the second tier, Kurt Zouma is a very experienced defender who is used to winning.

Zouma really enjoyed a loan spell at Stoke City but wages may be a hindrance. The centre-back would slot into most, maybe even all, defences for the Championship.

Another ambitious one on the list, but never say never.

Josh Dasilva

Versatility is key in football and Josh Dasilva is a great option to fulfil that role.

Dasilva left Brentford in the summer after seven seasons at the club, where he has learned to play in central midfield and as a left-back too.

He is still only 26 so would be coming into any club in his prime and could be good enough to start for the majority of sides in the Championship.

Kortney Hause

Kortney Hause has always been a reliable choice for Championship clubs having earned promotion with the likes of Wolves and Aston Villa in the past.

Hause would provide good squad depth for sides and maybe start for teams such as Oxford United and Sheffield Wednesday.

He would prefer to be a starter, of course, but may have to bide his time while he gets back up to speed.

Fraser Forster

Every side needs a capable goalkeeper, especially if their number one choice gets injured. Fraser Forster is very much in the twilight of his career, but if needed, could step up and hold down the fort.

Forster has had an illustrious career and spent the majority of it playing in the Premier League and Championship.

As far as short-term deals go, this could be one of the best that a club could do.