One in and one out on transfer deadline day

It wasn’t exactly the most frantic deadline day for us, but we got we were after – a striker!

That striker in question is Derby’s Chris Martin, who joins on loan for the remainder of the current season. It has been reported for a number of weeks that we were chasing the Scottish international, with a handful of clubs interested in his signature, but we have got our man.

We will reportedly be paying all of his wages and there is no reported option to be able to buy the 29-year old at the end of the deal, but I’m sure that discussions can be had depending on how he does. Either way, we finally have what we have been chasing for a while – a proven striker.

I really like Martin as a striker, as he doesn’t just offer goals, but plenty of assists and good hold-up play. Hopefully he can be a more youthful version of Yann, who doesn’t seem the same player since his injury. A proven goalscorer at this level, so I think this one could work.

The only notable outgoing was that of Roy Beerens, with the Dutch winger leaving the Royals to turn to his native Holland with top division side Vitesse. He was missing from the squad at Burton at Tuesday and has struggled to hold down a starting place this season under Stam.

The signing of Aluko and Barrow near enough sealed his future, despite near enough being an ever-present last season. I’m not overly disappointed to see Roy go – despite the odd piece of brilliance, it was often overshadowed by a lack of work rate and going missing in games.