HUDDERSFIED Town manager Lee Grant has confirmed that he is not expecting further incoming deadline-day arrivals following the loan signing of Leicester City attacking midfielder Will Alves – but has hinted at some departures among his squad players before the 7pm deadline.
Former England youth international Alves, 20, has signed for the remainder of the 2025-26 season, becoming the club’s 13th – and most likely final – signing of a remarkable summer window.
Alves is eligible for Town’s EFL Trophy debut against Newcastle United’s under-21s at the Accu Stadium on Tuesday night.
Some rumors have linked Town with Aston Villa starlet Zépiqueno Redmond, but Grant denied any such link.
Grant commented on the current state of play as deadline day approaches: “We are really pleased to have Will in the building and believe he will be another really good addition for us and give us another really good option in the frontline. He also has the ability to play across one or two positions, which is super-helpful.
“We’re pleased to start working with Will, but as things stand, that’s it (done).
“I don’t think we’ll conduct any more business as things stand now. I can’t make any promises, but I believe Will will be our last player in.
“I think, along with quite a few other managers, we will be happy to see 7pm this evening and the window shut.”
In terms of probable outgoings, Grant said on Monday afternoon: “There’s no news on that front right now.
“We are just as we are.
“It’s possible we’ll lose one or two. But, as things stand, the squad is complete.
“If we lost someone, it would most likely be mutual, with both parties already having a sense of and clarity about the issue. It would not surprise either myself or that individual.
“We are fortunate to have really good backing from the ownership in terms of being able to hold onto everybody (in main group) and that’s what I expect to happen by the end of the window.”
Owen Goodman, who was disqualified on Saturday, is available for the Trophy game against Newcastle, as his suspension is limited to league games. Grant stated that Lee Nicholls, who has appeared in both of the club’s EFL Cup games this season, will start in goal.
Jacob Chapman (ankle) remains out, with one or two of the club’s other young goalkeepers expected to fill in for Nicholls during Goodman’s absence.
Meanwhile, Grant has allayed concerns about Alife May, who was substituted at half-time in Saturday’s Derby defeat at Oakwell.
The Town manager insisted after the game at Barnsley that it was for tactical reasons, but the striker did suffer an early setback when he went down with a foot injury before returning for the rest of the first half.
He stated, “It was an unintentional stamp, with the (Barnsley) guy’s foot falling on top of Alfie’s.
“But he’s fine.” It’s not something I’m worried about, but we have to be careful not to push it with anyone (on Tuesday).
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