Peterborough United are set for some January juggling in the winter transfer market

The need for new players to sustain a climb up the League One table is obvious despite recent improved results, but for that to happen Posh will have to first shed some unwanted players, while a couple of other might have to be sacrificed as well to free up some salary cap space.

According to the PT records Posh have 33 senior players on their books, a total made up of first-team regulars, players who made first-team appearances this season, on-loan stars and a couple of long-term injury victims. The list includes four on-loan players and doesn’t include the five senior players who are currently away on loan.

Posh could try and get that down to a manageable 25 players and here’s how the PT would achieve it.

Goalkeepers (5): Alex Bass, Nick Bilokapic, Will Blackmore, Vicente Reyes, Bastien Smith.

Bilokapic and Blackmore have been on the transfer list since the summer so Posh will try and shift them again. Reyes may well return to Norwich City after getting little game time at London Road. Smith is only 20 so Posh could use him as back-up, but it’s likely they would look for a more experienced number two. Smith could then be sent out on loan.

4 out, 1 in. Squad now 30.

Full-backs (6): Rio Adebisi, James Dornelly, Carl Johnston, Peter Kioso, Jacob Mendy, Harley Mills.

Much will depend on Adebisi's fitness, but it’s hard to see him coming back as good as he was after almost 18 months on the sidelines, not straight away at least. Obviously he won’t be going anywhere. Mendy is apparently close to a return so he will be cover for MIlls. Posh have three right-backs which is one too many. Johnston can play as a left-back at a push so we’d keep him and let Dornelly out on loan.

1 out, 0 in. Squad now 29.

Centre-backs (7): Fabian Claxton, Sam Hughes, Tom Lees, Lucca Mendonca, George Nevett, Tom O’Connor, David Okagbue.

More than four centre-backs seem a luxury, but the injury issues of Hughes and Nevett makes life trickier. Hughes, Lees, O’Connor and Okagbue/Nevett would be a strong quartet for League One. It would be a shame if Nevett’s promising start to the season petered out and his passing ability would certainly seem to suit Luke Williams football, but the number of hoof-balling sides in League One would give me concerns re Nevett in a back four. If Hughes returns to action I’d let Nevett leave for League Two on loan, albeit reluctantly. Obviously if Hughes and Nevett don’t come back in the next few weeks another centre-back will need to be found. Mendonca and Claxton could also go out on loan for regular senior football. We like what we have seen of Mendonca.

3 out, 0 (possibly 1)in. Squad now 26.

Central midfield (5): Archie Collins, Ryan De Havilland, Brandon Khela, Donay O’Brien-Brady, Ben Woods.

De Havilland has been on the transfer list since the summer so needs to leave. The others are doing well, or at least okay, and Garbett could also fill a midfield role. There is a chance Collins could be sold to avoid losing him for nothing next summer, but this should be resisted unless the cash is desperately needed to aid recruitment.

1 out. 0 In. Squad now 25.

10s (3): Matthew Garbett, Klaidi Lolos, Jimmy-Jay Morgan.

We can see Garbett and Morgan taking turns to play in an advanced midfield role. Both are effective and both can play in other positions. Lolos has shown nothing so far and could leave to free up some much needed squad space.

1 out: 0 in. Squad now 24.

Wingers (4): Declan Frith, Cian Hayes, Kyrell Lisbie, Abraham Odoh.

Wide players are vital to the way Luke Williams wants to play so it’s important to have four dangerous ones. Garbett has shown he can play well out wide but he’s better more centrally. Odoh has struggled badly this season and a change of club would probably be good for him now. He'd need replacing though.

1 out. 1 in: Squad now 24.

Strikers (3): Harry Leonard, Gustav Lindgren, Bolu Showfowoke.

Shofowoke could appear in the first-team if Posh have little to play for towards the end of the season, but he isn’t ready yet. Morgan can also play as a central striker, but it would be a huge concern if main man Harry Leonard suffered an injury so an extra forward is required. Expect plenty of rumours about Macauley Langstaff in the next six weeks or so!

0 out, 1 in: Squad now 25.

NOTES

Squad above includes loan players Peter Kioso, Jacob Mendy, Tom O’Connor and Jimmy-Jay Morgan.

It doesn’t include out on loan players Pemi Aderoju, Joe Andrews, Chris Conn-Clarke, Brad Ihionvien, David Kamara.

The winter transfer window opens on Thursday, January 1 and closes at 7pm on Monday, February 2.