
The window is open from Thursday, 16 January until Wednesday, 12 February – so there’s plenty of time for New Zealand’s professional clubs to make the right moves.
Giancarlo ‘Chiefy’ Italiano has made it clear what he is looking for this window – he wants a new playmaker to help create the chances for Kosta Barbarouses to finally join the A-League 100 club.
The Phoenix also have the bonus of being able to bring in an import player after club stalwart David Ball left the club this week.
With that visa slot now open, the Phoenix can cast their net far and wide to bring in a new number 10 but a few constraints still apply which helps narrow down their target market.
Transfer fees are unlikely, so players recently out of contract will be of interest. There’s plenty of names to pick from. Ante Coric was once dubbed the ‘next Luka Modric’ but the ex-Roma wonderkid is currently available for nothing.
Paraguayan attacker Brian Montenegro, who has a similar profile to former ‘Nix favourite Ulises Davila, is also a free agent. But the list of options is potentially inexhaustible, too much so to catalogue here.
Previous January windows have seen the Phoenix pull in loanees from Central America (Youstin Salas and Gael Sandoval) and that is likely to be another avenue they will pursue while don’t be surprised if Chiefy continues his recent propensity to delve into the Japanese market.

The Phoenix have already let a couple of players leave the club – including club legend Ball. Oskar van Hattum has also moved on, joining Sligo Rovers in Ireland.
Other than that, there are no glaring opportunities to move a player on and Chiefy is confident all will stay.
There have been rumours surrounding Scott Wootton and a move to Japan. Those, thankfully, remain just chatter.
Failure to jump on that import slot would be an error, so it will be interesting to see who director of football Shaun Gill and his team help to lure to New Zealand’s capital.