Doncaster Rovers manager Grant McCann has revealed he intends to sign another attacker before the end of the transfer window, despite yesterday’s arrivals of Frankie Okoronkwo and Hakeeb Adelakun.
The 2024/25 League Two champions returned to the third tier this season and immediately picked up from where they left off. Five wins from their opening seven games saw them rise to second in the table, although it’s been far from plain sailing since.
Rovers have won just once since beating Bradford City on September 6th which has seen them plunge into the relegation zone. A 1-1 draw with Bolton Wanderers on New Year’s Day kept them rooted to 23rd, where they are now five points from safety.
This has seen Grant McCann act swiftly following the opening of the transfer market at the beginning of the year. Four new faces are already through the door, with defender Bailey McCann and midfielder Darren Robinson joining yesterday’s duo from Barnsley and Derby County respectively.
Attacking Signings Show Intent
There’s little doubt that Doncaster have struggled for goals for much of the campaign. They have found the back of the net 24 times in 24 league games thus far, with the versatile Owen Bailey their current top scorer.
Elsewhere, the South Yorkshire-based side have been reliant on the evergreen Billy Sharp and Brandon Hanlan. However, the pair have just three league goals each to their names.
Therefore, it was no surprise to see McCann swoop to bring back former loanee Hakeeb Adelakun. The 29-year-old left Cheltenham Town earlier this week following the expiration of a short-term deal, immediately sparking rumours that a return to the Eco-Power Stadium was on the cards.
The attacker spent the second half of the 2023/24 season with the club, where he had a remarkable impact. His nine goals and seven assists were key to their late rise into the play-offs after spending the majority of the campaign just above the relegation places.
Hakeeb Adelakun has played his last game for Cheltenham…could Doncaster be enjoying moments such as this again? 😳#ctfc #DRFC pic.twitter.com/nNe5EMlz7o
— The Deck – EFL (@TheDeckEFL) January 4, 2026
The former Lincoln City winger was joined yesterday by Everton youngster Frankie Okoronkwo, who himself had just departed the Imps. The 21-year-old headed to Lincolnshire on a season-long deal in August but only found himself on the fringes of the squad. Ironically, his only goal in League One came against Doncaster in November.
McCann Targeting Yet More Firepower
Doncaster will take a break from their league exploits this weekend when they host Championship outfit Southampton in the FA Cup. This seems the ideal opportunity to get some minutes into their new arrivals, although McCann has insisted their January business isn’t over yet.
The ex-Peterborough United boss knows exactly what he needs to add to his squad, confirming that another attacker will arrive before the transfer window closes on February 2nd. Via Doncaster Free Press, the manager said:
“Yeah, there will be. There’ll be another one that we’ll bring in at the top end of the pitch.
“I know people from the outside looking in will think ‘well you’re conceding a lot of goals’ but I think in most of the games we’ve played this season we should be out of sight.
“With the opportunities and the chances we’re creating, we should be scoring more goals. We have to be ruthless in games and ruthless in decision-making and I’m certain that the top end of the pitch is definitely an area we have to improve on.”
On the face of it, this does appear to be the right tact. Adelakun and Okoronkwo will add more threat but they are both wingers by trade.
McCann seems to be hinting at recruiting an out-an-out striker, which will take the load off those further back. Bailey has been excellent in front of goal whilst Luke Molyneux remains their key outlet, but a decent centre forward could be the final piece of the jigsaw.