As many managers will say in the build-up to the January window, the main aim is to emerge at the end of the month stronger than at the start. Following words with decisive action is often a lot harder, however, in such a short and pressurised period of time, as witnessed by the fact that four clubs either sacked or lost their managers, which does not exactly speak of good planning. Finding realistic needle-moving signings is especially hard when clubs do not want to sell at this stage of a campaign, while you are eternally at the mercy of those with bigger teeth and sharper claws further up the food chain. With a flurry of deals conducted on deadline day, BBC Sport casts an eye over the 24 teams in the Championship and picks out the main winners and losers heading into the final four months of the season.

Source: BBC February 03, 2026 22:32 UTC