January is a very exciting time of year for football fans the January blues simply don’t hit us as the transfer window opens .

Already in the Danske Bank Premiership there has been quite a bit of activity but the main talking point of where Joe Gormley ends up has not yet been decided.

Gormley formerly of Cliftonville before moving across the water to League one side Peterborough United unfortunately for Joe he suffered a bad injury damaging his ACL .

He then moved on at the start of the season to SPL side St Johnstone under the guidance of Tommy Wright but he failed to settle and moved back to Northern Ireland.

Seemingly three clubs are in for his signature the champions Crusaders ,Linfield and former club Cliftonville however Dundalk who would offer him full time football are also said to be interested.

Gormley scored seventy four league goals for the Reds an incredible feat for any Irish League player .

Cliftonville have made two signings so far Gerard Lyttle bringing in young centre defender Peter Finnegan and Kym Nelson on loan from Glentoran. 

Finnegan’s last club was league of Ireland side Bray Wanderers so with that in mind he is expected to be solid alongside Jason McGuiness at the heart of the defence.

Nelson is a strange signing for Cliftonville considering he hasn’t been given the game time he has desired for at the Oval. It gives the young midfielder a great chance to show what he can do alongside James Knowles.

Nelson is a creative player but over the past few seasons his development has somewhat stalled due to as I have already mentioned lack of game time.

Ballymena United are on the verge of signing promising striker Joe McKinney from Ards with another promising young striker leaving the Ballymena Showgrounds to go to Ards as part of the deal in the form of Matthew Shevlin.

Shevlin is a fantastic young player however injuries have scampered his season not giving him a chance to fit into David Jeffrey’s plans.

Reece Croft has also left the Braidmen to sign for Intermediate side Lisburn Distillery the young midfielder comes to New Grosvenor Stadium with so much potential .

Linfield have made one signing so far in Kevin Amuneke from Ballynure Old Boys , however the Nigerian has played professionally for Fc Porto and Vitoria Setubal in Portugal.

Linfield fans are expecting big things from the striker who scored eight goals in twelve games at Lower Irish league side Ballynure.

Crsuaders have completed the loan signing of centre defender Alan Keane from Dundalk on a six month loan deal.

Stephen Baxter trying to add to his defensive options although the Crues have the best defensive record in the league this season.

Keane will certainly have to battle to get into the team as Colin Coates and summer signing Howard Beverland have been very solid at the heart of the Champions defence.

Coleriane have snapped up striker Eoin Bradley from Glenavon a terrific signing from manager Oran Kearney, Bradley doesn’t only offer strength but his goalscoring record is phenomenal a poor decision from Glenavon manager Gary Hamilton to allow him to leave.

Bradley is one of the most technical strikers in the league with superb footwork to allow him to just slide past defenders at ease.

Coleriane have also snapped up the services of promising midfielder Ciaron Harkin from Institute, Harkin will certainly offer a lot of energy to the Bannsiders play.

Glenavon have signed former under twenty one international James Gray who scored two in the Irish Cup victory at Portstewart but the talk of Mourenview is where Kevin Braniff will be come the 1st of February after he handed in a transfer request.

Portadown who sit bottom of the table have made two signings Adam Foley who scored on his debut against Larne in the cup on Saturday.

Former  Cliftonville and Drogheda United winger Tiarnan Mulvenna also has signed for the Shamrock Park club he will bring quality about the Ports attacking play.

Article by Josh Bunting