Transfer budget next season

[Walt]

Just wondering what people think our spending will look like next year should we stay up. I have no knowledge of accounts like Royboy does but I've done some loose calculations.

With TV money and our normal turnover we can expect to make approx 140m, this and next season. Expected sale of Keane, say 30m for sake of debate meaning 310m income.

Wages and fees this year 80m.
Wages increase next year from my guess at 40m this year to 50m.

No idea if we plan to do this but to try and put outgoings more realistic I'd say 10m/20m added to youth development funds. It would also make sense to invest in this area whilst we can, clearly we are doing with facilities and recruitment of Pepper and Law. I was thinking more on the actual recruitment of highly rated young players.

Another 10m for general maintenance/miscellaneous costs.

So, I'd say after wages next season that still leaves a rough surplus income of 150m.

Mind boggling figures.

[Spijed]

Do we actually have a set budget?

[Blackrod]

Not sure we need too much other than another decent striker. Maybe more cover at CB if Keane leaves.

[dibraidio]

If you look at our first team squad we we are short of 1 central defender, 1 left back, 1 right back, 1 striker. We have a limited number of places left in our 25 man squad.

I can't see us buying 10 million pound players for all of those positions.

IF we stay up this season then it looks like we're going to have some interesting new challenges.

The one thing that I hope we will do is to make Sean Dyche one of the best paid managers in the Premier League.

[9thMay1987]

Transfers and the budget next season depends on players leaving.

Michael Keane will go hopefully £25-£30m.

Tom Heaton and Ben Mee will be difficult to keep from bigger clubs clutches plus fringe players will leave.

Keeping the manager may be the big issue!

[Walt]

A big move for a striker would be top of my list, I'd agree with the other positions mentioned by dibraidio.

There's also the loan situation. I understand why everyone isn't a fan of loaning players and it's fair to say we have been poor utilising it. There are good deals to be had here though.

Not saying we should be signing these players specifically but Wilshire impacted Bournemouth's starting 11. Isco was going to Boro and was loaned to Las Palmas, so very good players can be loaned.

[lucs86]

If we stay up our main problem is going to be keeping Dyche, any new manager would mean a bit more of a turnaround on players.

It's almost certain Keane will be sold so we'll need a replacement. And we're a CF and LB light as things stand (once Flanagan has gone). Heaton will be in demand and I don't think it would come as a shock if Defour's head is turned if a bigger club show interest. Boyd and Barton could also be off (out of contract).

So couple of maybes and I hope we retain Boyd and Barton, but to stand still we could find ourselves looking for a LB, CB, CM, CM, RM, CF (I've a feeling Heaton's sticking around).

[minnieclaret]

Spine of any side is the key to success.
Improved contracts for SD and Tom.
Do everything possible to keep Michael Keane.
A top ball winning midfielder, style of Kante.
A 20 goal a season striker.
Shouldn't cost anywhere near the amounts the OP mentions and would advance us.

[cricketfieldclarets]

No more than this season. Net spend anyway. We have strengthened well this year with a view to next.

Hoping the starting 11 will still consist of the core of this years side.

That means just a few to compliment what we already have. Obviously if we need to replace a big player like Keane or Gray we will need to spend a bit more. But we can still get replacements for less than we get for them.

Buying a good player is as good as banking the money as they should help us stay up and they will increase in value if they do their job. But we will still need an element of caution / realism. Dont spend all the lottery winnings like Michael Carroll.

[cricketfieldclarets]

Just hope we can find the right talent abroad next year. Can usually get more talent for less money. The italian and spanish clubs are poor.

[Walt]

I'm not suggesting we blow the lot just for clarity on my thought process.

I was also thinking, or hoping we would spend a similar amount as this year on fees, maybe a slight increase using the Keane money too.

That still leaves a very healthy rainy day fund.

[summitclaret]

I really hope we buy british or if we have to northern Europe, as far more likely to be Dyche types. Keeping the squad english speaking and hard working is vital imo.

[Goody1975]

Obviously the budget is important but the vital thing for me is that we keep improving, there are countless examples of clubs who increase spending but end up with more of the same and in some cases worse than what they already had, the massive wage bill then ends up like a noose around their necks and eventually drags them down.

We don't need a massive influx, two or three key additions plus a possible replacement for Keane would be excellent. Central midfield is obviously still a cause for concern even though we are now much stronger than at any time in the distant past.

[Colburn_Claret]

Keeping the squad together has to be a priority, hard though it may be.
I wouldn't go for anymore than 2 starters in any transfer window, it will help maintain the excellent team spirit. If we stick to just 2 starters it would increase our target value. Quality not quantity has to be the way forward.

[dibraidio]

Obviously the budget is important but the vital thing for me is that we keep improving, there are countless examples of clubs who increase spending but end up with more of the same and in some cases worse than what they already had, the massive wage bill then ends up like a noose around their necks and eventually drags them down.

I remember Andrew Watson saying that our wage bill was 3 million and it would have to be 6 million to compete with the teams at the top of the table. Of course the thing he forgot was that paying the same players double wouldn't make us any more competitive.

[Goody1975]

Parachute payments are either two or three seasons now depending if you are relegated at the first time of asking.

Approximately:-

Year One £40 Million
Year Two £33 Million
Year Three £14 Million

We can't get ahead of ourselves even if we stay up, as even with the large profit expected for this season it wouldn't take long for the money to run dry if we get giddy.

[Goody1975]

Just a different slant

Clubs in the Championship with no parachute payments currently get 30% of the third years payment which is about £4,200,000 that drops to 4.5% in League One or approximately £630,000.

Wouldn't like to be relegated to League One with the bank manager already looking over the massive debts in my accounts.

[dsr]

We don't need a replacement for Keane; Tarkowski is the replacement for Keane. We need a replacement for Tarkowski.

[Goody1975]

That's valid dsr but we managed to get Tarkowski on the cheap compared with some of the fees being quoted for lesser players in the Championship, it would still mean a purchase of around £10 Million to see us not weakened in that area.

[Sidney1st]

As shown these last 2 windows, the club will pay for the right players at the right price.
If Hull had sold us Robertson, we would've paid circa £10 million for him.

Budget wise it's hard to predict, but we've done well with the signings we've made and it looks like the club have learnt a lot these last 2 efforts in the PL.

[Quickenthetempo]

I would think an extra 60m would be available to increase the wages and transfers on top of any sales.

[Goody1975]

The two signings in January may or may not have cost us slightly more than in the summer but they now have a chance to settle in fully before pre season and more importantly give us an even better chance of staying up.

Robertson is a very good player at the right age, this is the type of player we need to be looking at.

[FactualFrank]

A 20 goal a season striker.

I doubt we'll find someone who can score that many. In each of the last 5 seasons, only 3 players have managed to score 20 or more.

[KefkaClaret]

Transfers and the budget next season depends on players leaving.

Michael Keane will go hopefully £25-£30m.

Tom Heaton and Ben Mee will be difficult to keep from bigger clubs clutches plus fringe players will leave.

Keeping the manager may be the big issue!

Mee won't attract any of the bigger clubs. His passing isn't good enough.

[Bin Ont Turf]

We don't need a replacement for Keane; Tarkowski is the replacement for Keane. We need a replacement for Tarkowski.

That's the wrong way of looking at it.

If Keane is to go then it doesn't matter who replaces who, we hopefully would like to get a better player in than both Mee and Tarky to keep our level of improvement up.

[geopancake]

Appoint Viv Nicholson as financial advisor and "spend, spend, spend"

[claretspice]

A top class striker is, for my money, the main priority in the summer. I've said elsewhere that Jay Rodriguez is exactly the profile of striker we ought to be looking at - he could play with any of our current strikers, but he strikes me as a particularly good potential foil for Gray.

Apart from that, it is all squad strengthening. If Boyd goes (and I hope he doesn't) then another winger will come into the reckoning, and we may want someone to push from beneath the first choice 3-4 any way. We may also want another central midfielder if one of Barton or Defour is not available to us next season.

We'll want back up to what is almost certain to be our main centre back pairing of Tarkowski and Mee to replace Keane (Roberts at Barnsley?), and possibly two new full backs - understudies and competitors to Ward and Lowton (I assume Darikwa and Flanagan will move on, and we have already been linked with Robertson - Charlie Taylor might be one name in the frame).

Of course, if Heaton goes, we'll need a new keeper, too.

So - it will be a busy summer. There'll be at least 6 players coming in I would suspect, but only perhaps 1 or 2 will be for the first team immediately.

[cricketfieldclarets]

If Keane goes I think we need to improve on Mee.

mee has been very good for us. But without the pace and class of Keane alongside him I would be more worried. Tarkowski clearly has ability. But we need proven quality in a vital area.

[jedi_master]

Maybe they will look at a rebuild of one of the two older stands (or building the Bob Lord back to the road, over the offices, and refurbishing the general architecture etc from an external standpoint) if we remain up?

I have long thought this may be on the agenda if we ever managed to stay in the Premier League. They have spent so much on the concourses, internal space etc of the Bob Lord and Cricket Field, that I can't really ever see a 'full' rebuild happening, but surely the idea of renovation and building to the back of the road is a possibility?

I think the demand for another 2-3000 home seats in the Bob Lord IS there, we have sold out a few times this season and there is certainly appetite for more away fan space too.

[HendricksHair]

Seriously can't see Defour leaving unless it's for another prem club or if he's offered silly money. Said himself his dream was to play in the Premier League so can't see him giving up that dream after one season

[Tinribs]

Transfers and the budget next season depends on players leaving.

Michael Keane will go hopefully £25-£30m.

Tom Heaton and Ben Mee will be difficult to keep from bigger clubs clutches plus fringe players will leave.

Keeping the manager may be the big issue!

Which prem clubs do you think would want dyche?
None of top 10 ,top 6 want a big name,other 4 will be well pleased with their current boss

Three 3 promoted sides won't be looking for a new manager
Your left with us and 6 others Swansea,Bournemouth,watford,Leicester maybe??

He has full control over the playing side at Burnley,there are not many jobs around where u will get the freedom he has here with sensible owners.
Dyche is going nowhere for now.

[claretspice]

I think we'll keep hold of Dyche for another year- unless perhaps someone like Bilic at West Ham decides he's off.

But I am worried by the contractual position of a few key players, particularly Gray, who I think are out of contract next summer. Getting them tied down will be pivotal.

Re: the criticism of Mee above - I don't agree. Mee has done well this season and Keane has benefitted from his organisational abilities alongside him. Mee has his limitations but he is improving year on year for us and he's got all the capabilities to be the cornerstone of this team for years. You need someone like him, who has been on the journey from the outset, the set the culture within the club, and to be that man he has to play.

[Woodleyclaret]

Michael Keane is far better than Stones so why would we undervalue him at £30m.We have moved on from our bargain givewaways of Jayrod.Danny Ings.Tripp and Charlie.We are now serious players in the top flight and must not forget the market value.
Also why would Keano leave.? Surely we just up his wages as we need to do with Sean the miracle worker before his head is turned

[CombatClaret]

I'm still shocked we spent as much as we did this season. Around £38m in all and we keep breaking our record fees (Gray 6m, Defour 7.35, Hendrick 10.5, Brady 13m)
I would guess next season we would looks to spend the same or maybe even a little less on incommings but more spent behind the scenes trying to keep some of the players we already have. Hard to judge without knowing who we might have to replace.

[Spijed]

I think we'll keep hold of Dyche for another year- unless perhaps someone like Bilic at West Ham decides he's off.

But I am worried by the contractual position of a few key players, particularly Gray, who I think are out of contract next summer. Getting them tied down will be pivotal.

Re: the criticism of Mee above - I don't agree. Mee has done well this season and Keane has benefitted from his organisational abilities alongside him. Mee has his limitations but he is improving year on year for us and he's got all the capabilities to be the cornerstone of this team for years. You need someone like him, who has been on the journey from the outset, the set the culture within the club, and to be that man he has to play.

Don't we always have the problem with 3 yr deals for our players? The Gray situation seems to be no different. They won't commit to 4-5 year stints because they feel they can get a move to a better club.

[jlup1980]

We'll be our usual astute selves I imagine.

Keane will go but I really don't see anyone else leaving (with the exception of Gray if he refuses to sign a new deal).

First signing will be Dale Stephens on a free in my opinion. He'll replace Marney in the squad as I just don't see him coming back again - not at this level anyway.

Robertson in at left back to add competition for places.

A centre half to replace Keano obviously, hopefully someone at the right age. I wonder how much we'd get someone like Gibson for if Boro get relegated?

And a striker of course. We only have three so unless Sean believes Agyei can step up I think we need a fourth.

So all in all probably similar to this season - 35-40 million, something like that.

[minnieclaret]

Maybe they will look at a rebuild of one of the two older stands (or building the Bob Lord back to the road, over the offices, and refurbishing the general architecture etc from an external standpoint) if we remain up?

I have long thought this may be on the agenda if we ever managed to stay in the Premier League. They have spent so much on the concourses, internal space etc of the Bob Lord and Cricket Field, that I can't really ever see a 'full' rebuild happening, but surely the idea of renovation and building to the back of the road is a possibility?

I think the demand for another 2-3000 home seats in the Bob Lord IS there, we have sold out a few times this season and there is certainly appetite for more away fan space too.

wrong thread, Jedi?

[claretspice]

I certainly don't see any need for a bigger ground any time soon. We're not selling out - quite - the majority of games. And when we go back down (and we will at some point) a ground which holds 25k+ will appear far too small.

What we might do perhaps is look to invest in greater corporate capacity, by filling in over the top of the Bob Lord and providing some executive seating there whilst raising the roof up a bit. They'll also need to create more disabled seating with a decent raised view I'd have thought.

[claretandy]

No one is saying 25k plus but 2 to 3k extra on the bob lord with a new roof and premium seating would be ok, most of the decent seat are already gone.

[Blackrod]

I think we should think bigger and 2-3k extra capacity wouldn't go amiss. We don't need much bigger than that though. Corporate area could be expanded too.

[cricketfieldclarets]

There has been a lot of investment in the Bob Lord stand. The Hub, the new shop and ticket office, the player images (OK They would be easy to remove and put back up). I think The Bob Lord is probably behind the CFS in terms of priorities.

Personally would hope that both stay for a good while yet. If we were to redeveop I would knock the two newer stands down but I doubt that would happen.

Perhaps the logical thing would be to wait for safe standing and put that in along the bottom of the JHL and or JML. That would increase the capacity there, improve the view and negligible cost compared to a new stand.

[ClaretTony]

We can't get ahead of ourselves even if we stay up, as even with the large profit expected for this season it wouldn't take long for the money to run dry if we get giddy.

We've got a feet on the ground chief exec who'sa Bradford City fan. He saw the consequences of a club staying up and getting giddy in 2000.

[NRC]

based on players who will/might leave, there really is every chance our outgoings and incomings add up to a net zero

[Giftonsnoidea]

RE: Gray, I would hope he stays and signs another 2-3 year contract as he still can improve his first touch and shooting a lot with us as a first teamer.

Can't see anyone apart from prem relegation candidates taking a punt on him at the moment.

Shame Ade Akinbiyi isn't coaching as he reminds me of a better version of Gray in his prime. I reckon he could get some good tips off him. I also think Akinbiyi is Jay Rods agent ( i think i read that somewhere).

[PensansClaret]

Why would anyone want to leave. This is just the beginning. The sky's the limit. This club is going places as long as we keep Dyche and I think he knows he can make our dreams come true

[claretspice]

No one is saying 25k plus but 2 to 3k extra on the bob lord with a new roof and premium seating would be ok, most of the decent seat are already gone.

2-3 k extra takes us up to around 25k. As and when we're selling out 70% of home fixtures, we should consider it. For now, we're not. I'm not even sure we sold out Chelsea on Saturday.

[claretandy]

2-3 k extra takes us up to around 25k. As and when we're selling out 70% of home fixtures, we should consider it. For now, we're not. I'm not even sure we sold out Chelsea on Saturday.

Would you pay to be in a crap seat in the bottom tiers getting wet threw ? i wouldn't.

[Goody1975]

Why has a discussion about transfer budgets turned into one about the ground?

http://www.uptheclarets.com/messageboar ... =2&t=13441" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[whentheballmoves]

Putting in 3k more seats would probably lead to an increase of 2k net, as the disabled section needed for each stand and tier will probably/possibly lead to the loss of 1k seats...

I'd like to see the other of the BL stand done. Maybe some of the disabled seating could be house in / above the new control box between the BL and JM? Just a thought...

The concourses and customer experience as a whole need investment. Toilets need a serious upgrade / doing up. I'd also like to see decent beer pumps, even though I don't drink at games - those multi dispensing thingies.

There'll always be stuff to spend money on. I'd even think about whether the roofs in the JM / JH stand can be sorted so the sound goes out and down rather than out and up quite so much, although I've no idea if that's viable.

In terms of players, we will need a keeper, 1-2 defenders, a winger and 1-2 strikers IMHO. How much you spend depends on wages, signing on fees, etc. How long's a piece of string?!

[Vegas Claret]

We'll probably re-paint the seats in the cricket field