What's through the transfer window?

ABERDEEN PROSPECTS ALTHOUGH CHALLENGING strongly for second place in the league, Aberdeen run a tight ship and Jimmy Calderwood is unlikely to be given significant funds to strengthen.

If crowds had been higher it might have been different, but after the full house against Rangers eight days ago only 12,000 turned up for the Boxing Day win over Kilmarnock.

Key signing: That may already have been made. Craig Brewster is 40, but the former Dundee United player/manager could still do a big turn for Aberdeen in their push for a European place.

Darren Mackie, in particular, will benefit from Brewster's assists, just as Stevie Crawford did at Dunfermline.

On the way out?

With Rangers struggling for central defenders, there has been inevitable speculation about Russell Anderson heading for Glasgow.

Celtic Prospects No challengers in sight for the Premierleague title, and also in the last 16 of the Champions League.

Gordon Strachan has confirmed he has an eye for a player with his earlier signings, and he has already landed the first coup of the transfer window by snatching former Hearts captain Steven Pressley away from Charlton's clutches.

Key signing: An experienced central defender was the pressing necessity and Pressley fitted the bill nicely.

On the way out?

Stephen Pearson, will head south for sure, probably to the Championship. Derek Riordan is another who needs first team football and could make the same journey. Bobo Balde's leg break will keep him on the books.

Dundee United Prospects Having had his fingers burned on so many occasions Eddie Thomson can't relish splashing the cash again. He may have to, though, because the massive improvement under Craig Levein can't be sustained without improving the squad. But Levein is likely to go canny.

Key signing United need a striker and a central defender, but perhaps most of all a goalkeeper who can command his box. It won't be Zibi Malkowski.

On the way out?

Levein didn't like what he saw in his early days at the club.

Expect more than a few departures.

Dunfermline Prospects Only slightly better than the Titanic's. Stephen Kenny's realistic aim now must be to equip Dunfermline for an immediate return to the Premierleague after they are relegated in May. That may even be the best long-term outcome - especially if Kenny can assemble a younger, and better, squad.

Key signing Ronaldinho, assuming the Pars can persuade him to swap Barcelona for Fife for a few bleak months. Failing that, Kenny is likely to bring in known faces from Ireland.

On the way out?

If the new man is to succeed he will have to be ruthless. Starting from tomorrow.

Falkirk Prospects The loss of Anthony Stokes would be a huge blow, although the signs appear good that the Irish youngster may continue his loan deal at Falkirk for the rest of the season.

Chief executive George Craig and manager John Hughes continue to work the English market astutely. Last January Patrick Cregg, Mark Howard and Liam Craig were recruited. There could be more to follow.

Key signing Having lost Darryl Duffy in last January's transfer window, Hughes would urgently need to find a replacement for his top scorer for the second season in succession if Stokes does decide to leave.

On the way out?

Alan Gow's strike partnership with Stokes has been one of the best in Scotland. If Gow is transferred, as is possible if a decent offer is received, the Bairns are in trouble.

Hearts Prospects Last January's transfer splurge, when a full team of new players was brought in, proved to be just one of many self-inflicted injuries.

Several of those players have disappeared without trace, but will Vladimir Romanov have learned his lesson? Answers on a postcard to Kaunas.

Key signing An international defender who can cement the club together and provide drive and leadership on the pitch. But even before Friday there was more chance of the original Elvis resurfacing.

On the way out?

As the current policy seems to be to demoralise the club's best players, those who could be leaving include Craig Gordon, Paul Hartley, Julien Brellier and Robbie Neilson. Which probably means they'll all stay.

Hibs Prospects Not as promising as they were before a certain agent arrived on the scene. The club has been undermined by the speculation surrounding Scott Brown and Kevin Thomson.

Hibs are to be admired for their strong stance with the midfield duo, but if another club - perhaps one from Glasgow - is determined to buy one or both, their departure is inevitable Key signing Despite the above, Hibs first and foremost need a goalkeeper who doesn't regularly lose his concentration.

It will also be interesting to see who John Collins brings in if money is available from the sale of his star midfielders. Derek Riordan anybody?

On the way out?

Brown and Thomson have dominated the transfer chat for weeks, so why stop now?

Inverness Caledonian Thistle Prospects As they proved in midweek, Inverness remain a strong, competent side who lack a little flair. Charlie Christie will be looking to recruit a creative midfielder and praying that the clubs looking for a goalkeeper don't settle on Mark Brown.

Key signing A striker to take the weight off Craig Dargo by providing an alternative source of goals.

On the way out?

Brown would be the most obvious of those players who Christie didn't want to lose.

Kilmarnock Prospects Killie continue to punch above their financial weight, but Jim Jeffries, who lost Kris Boyd to Rangers in the last winter transfer window, will have to wheel and deal to stay in the top six.

Key signing Jeffries has a well-balanced squad but the loss, through injury, of David Fernandez has been a blow. Like-for-like replacements are impossible to acquire.

On the way out?

Steven Naismith is an obvious target for many clubs.

Losing him at the same time as Fernandez is unavailable would be a massive blow for Killie.

Motherwell Prospects Seem to have got out of the relegation woods for the time being and there is now no need for Maurice Malpas to make impulsive signings he might regret. But as a distinguished defender, he won't like the amount of goals his side have been conceding in the first half of the season.

Key signing An experienced holding midfielder who can spread the play and take some pressure off the defence.

On the way out?

Loan signing Callum Elliot is due to return to Hearts, while fast-improving Australian striker Scott McDonald could well attract the attention of several clubs in the English Championship.

Rangers Prospects Paul Le Guen's summer signings have not sparkled, and his choice is whether to tough it out until the end of the season or make compromise signings now. The former is not a wise career option, and a big part of the solution could be the unsettled Brown and Thomson, who are hardly compromises. Much of the Frenchman's time should, however, be spent finding a no-nonsense central defender Key signing Plenty of options here, such as two solid central defenders who are accomplished in the air, a right back, at least two more midfielders, and a new striker.

On the way out?

Barry Ferguson and Kris Boyd. Only joking. Le Guen may have a certain frisson towards them, but he's not a kamikaze pilot.

St Mirren Prospects Given the squad is the lowest resourced in the SPL they've done well. With survival now probably more than a 50% chance, chairman Stewart Gilmour has said extra funding will be made available to Gus Macpherson.

Key signing John Sutton and Stewart Keen need competition to help them step up their scoring rate.

On the way out?

The Love Street squad is threadbare enough as it is.

Taken from the Sunday Herald