Transfer Talk: Suwon Bluewings

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kleaguefootball.com's Steve Price looks at what Suwon Bluewings need to do in this winter's transfer window.

How active do you think your team will be in the winter window?
In terms of big-name signings, it seems unlikely that Suwon Bluewings will be as active as Jeonbuk have already been. There will most likely be a few noteworthy signings, but Suwon’s policy seems to have shifted towards developing their young players and lowering their wage bill. With youth players being signed and loans finishing, Suwon’s squad has already been complemented by about a dozen new faces, but only a few of these will be likely to be ready for first team action from the start of the season. Keeping hold of Kwon Chang-Hoon, Yeom Ki-Hoon, and Santos is also vital if Suwon want to challenge this season.

What's your team's biggest area of need? Who are some potential targets you'd like to see fill those holes?
Suwon’s midfield is pretty solid but the rest of their team needs improvement. The Bluewings were, surprisingly, last season’s top scorers in the K-League, but a solid replacement for Jong Tae-Se, who left in the summer for Shimizu S-Pulse, would be nice. Iliyan Mitsanski has done little so far to suggest that he can be that player. More importantly though, is the pressing need for Suwon to sort out their defense. They let in forty-three goals last season, and they have already lost right back Oh Beom-Seok during this window, and defender Cho Sung-Jin has left to undertake his military service. This leaves Suwon very thin at the back so some new signings are a must if Suwon want to compete at the top end of the table. With high-earners Jung Sung-Ryung and Jong Tae-Se off the wage list, Suwon should spend big to bring in some quality at the back. As well as a replacement for Oh Beom-Seok, it would be nice to see Suwon showing some ambition and trying to bring in Matej Jonjic from Incheon United, or a player of a similar quality, to replace Cho.

Is there someone on the team you'd like to see loaned out or sold?
Jung Sung-Ryung’s move to Kawasaki Frontale was pleasing to see as it frees up a lot of money for other players. Jung was in the top ten highest paid players in the league last year, and there won’t be many fans who would claim that he deserves such wages. If Mitsanski and Kaio haven’t shown the coaching staff that they have the potential for a decent 2016 then they should also be shown the door.

What transfers have already taken place and how do you see them playing out in 2016?

Suwon have brought in Kim Jong-Min from J-2 side Tokushima Vortis. He wasn’t particularly prolific in Japan’s second tier but is only twenty-three years old and could be one to watch out for in future seasons. Another young player to look out for is rookie winger Moon Joon-Ho who represented Korea in a rare under-22 match against Cambodia under-23’s in May last year. Both signings show Suwon’s shift towards youth, and with the emergence of Kwon Chang-Hoon last year, it looks as though Suwon are set-up to help these young players reach their potential. However, as said before, it is likely that most of Suwon’s transfer activity is yet to come.