Summer transfer window

[Pickles]

I wanted us to go for Rudoni when he was at Huddersfield. In a pretty tepid Terriers team, he always stood out.

[Woodleyclaret]

Spot on, with one other quality player last night Coventry would have won

[burnley007]

Spot on, with one other quality player last night Coventry would have won

Jobe was his average self.

Massively over hyped

[CoolClaret]

My updated shortlist (no particular order), based on watching them, age, profile, hype and feasibility of signing.

Harrison Reed (CM - Fulham)
Youssef Salech (ST - Cardiff)
Viktor Johansson (GK - Stoke)
Shea Charles (CM - Southampton)
Bafodé Diakité (CB/RB - Lille)
Mihailo Ivanović (ST - Milwall)
Jack Rudoni (CM/CAM - Coventry)
Japhet Tanganga (CB - Milwall)
Milan van Ewijk (RB - Coventry)
Martin Vitík (CB - Sparta Prague)

Feel we will sign one or two from left field, hence the Diakité/Vitik shouts.

[Newcastleclaret93]

My updated shortlist (no particular order), based on watching them, age, profile, hype and feasibility of signing.

Harrison Reed (CM - Fulham)
Youssef Salech (ST - Cardiff)
Viktor Johansson (GK - Stoke)
Shea Charles (CM - Southampton)
Bafodé Diakité (CB/RB - Lille)
Mihailo Ivanović (ST - Milwall)
Jack Rudoni (CM/CAM - Coventry)
Japhet Tanganga (CB - Milwall)
Milan van Ewijk (RB - Coventry)
Martin Vitík (CB - Sparta Prague)

Feel we will sign one or two from left field, hence the Diakité/Vitik shouts.

My out there shout would be Avom from Lorient. Looks a talent

[KRBFC]

My updated shortlist (no particular order), based on watching them, age, profile, hype and feasibility of signing.

Harrison Reed (CM - Fulham)
Youssef Salech (ST - Cardiff)
Viktor Johansson (GK - Stoke)
Shea Charles (CM - Southampton)
Bafodé Diakité (CB/RB - Lille)
Mihailo Ivanović (ST - Milwall)
Jack Rudoni (CM/CAM - Coventry)
Japhet Tanganga (CB - Milwall)
Milan van Ewijk (RB - Coventry)
Martin Vitík (CB - Sparta Prague)

Feel we will sign one or two from left field, hence the Diakité/Vitik shouts.

We’re in the Premier League next season mate

[CoolClaret]

We’re in the Premier League next season mate

We are, yeah.

Signing top young Championship talent is a no-brainer.

I don't know of any players of higher pedigree that we'd have a chance of signing.

[Burnley Ace]

32 year old Wilfred Zaha on loan at FC Charlotte! Where did it all go wrong?

[brexit]

My updated shortlist (no particular order), based on watching them, age, profile, hype and feasibility of signing.

Harrison Reed (CM - Fulham)
Youssef Salech (ST - Cardiff)
Viktor Johansson (GK - Stoke)
Shea Charles (CM - Southampton)
Bafodé Diakité (CB/RB - Lille)
Mihailo Ivanović (ST - Milwall)
Jack Rudoni (CM/CAM - Coventry)
Japhet Tanganga (CB - Milwall)
Milan van Ewijk (RB - Coventry)
Martin Vitík (CB - Sparta Prague)

Feel we will sign one or two from left field, hence the Diakité/Vitik shouts.

Only question on this list is did Zian and Ivanovic ever play together? if so did they gel?

[RVclaret]

Only question on this list is did Zian and Ivanovic ever play together? if so did they gel?

They didn’t. Ivanovic replaced him on deadline day, after we’d just signed Zian.

[KRBFC]

We are, yeah.

Signing top young Championship talent is a no-brainer.

I don't know of any players of higher pedigree that we'd have a chance of signing.

Feels like a list you put together based on limited viewing.

[CoolClaret]

Feels like a list you put together based on limited viewing.

Of course, I mean, I don't spend all day scouting players.

It's players that I think fit our needs, are feasible signings (finances, etc) and are the right sort of profile (predominantly young, but performed to a high level in the Champ).... moreover, it's a bit of fun.

That ok with you?

[Tricky Trevor]

First time I’d seen extended coverage of Rudoni and I thought he looked a poor mans Sander Berge and that is not an insult. He was excellent both legs. Found space, always knew what was going on around him, won his tackles and good runs into the box. Certainly worth having in the squad.

[Firthy]

According to this article we'll be selling our best players and bringing in cheaper options. At least we haven't ended up in administartion. There really is some crap articles out there just to get attention. Guess it worked because it got mine

https://eflanalysis.com/transfers/burnl ... aunt-them/

[CrosspoolClarets]

According to this article we'll be selling our best players and bringing in cheaper options. At least we haven't ended up in administartion. There really is some crap articles out there just to get attention. Guess it worked because it got mine

https://eflanalysis.com/transfers/burnl ... aunt-them/

Doing a X search on ‘Burnley’ is less effective than doing it on ‘#twitterclarets’. That would avoid much of this dross coming up.

We don’t know who will stay but I reckon Parker is so well liked internally that players won’t blind side him, he will know their desires.

What we do know from the accounts is that they don’t look too bad, despite what the garbage article says. Even Kieran McGuire, not a Pace fan if I recall, was fairly complimentary. I’m certain we don’t meed to sell, and I bet we could spend £50m without having to sell first, if the club choose to do a bit of recycling to generate more transfer funds, that is up to Scott, Matt and Alan.

[boatshed bill]

According to this article we'll be selling our best players and bringing in cheaper options. At least we haven't ended up in administartion. There really is some crap articles out there just to get attention. Guess it worked because it got mine

https://eflanalysis.com/transfers/burnl ... aunt-them/

We'd be daft to sell our best players just to pay more for replacements.

[GetIntoEm]

We dont "need" to sell anyone.

[jedi_master]

Just musing on potential business this morning. I'd really like to see 4 or so 28-33 year old players from the Premier League coming in, be that on loan or permanent. That might sound lacking foresight, not be exciting, but it's what we didn't do last time and is what that squad sorely needed in my opinion rather than expensive tubs of caviar like Amdouni and Tresor. Dyche got great value from similar types with signings like Pieters, Bardsley etc.

Players of this type I'd be interested in IF they were in anyway possible on the right sort of deal, and being realistic:

Vladimir Coufal (on a free and always seems a solid type)
Tomas Soucek (great, experienced player but would cost a fair sum - been made available by West Ham though)
Kenny Tete (on a free, signed by Parker originally at Fulham too)
Kyle Walker-Peters (on a free but possibly unlikely, would imagine he has a lot of takers out of contract)
Harrison Reed (will cost a bit, but out of favour at Fulham, already linked with us and known to Parker - solid player)
Harry Winks (always been a decent player but completely out of the picture at Leicester after he acted up under RVN)
Callum Wilson (on a free - injury prone yes but what a player if he could give us a couple of years)
Abdoulaye Doucoure (on a free, but massive wages currently at Everton, probably the case for all of these though)
Ben Davies (on a free, probably incredibly unrealistic as played 26 times for Spurs last season, not sure)
Michael Keane (on a free, if CJ is leaving this is an obvious shout and absolutely rightly so)
Ross Barkley (would be expensive both in salary and possibility of a fee - wonder if a loan is possible. Only made 3 league starts for Villa)
Conor Coady (not had the best couple of years perhaps since leaving Wolves but the right 'sort' and if we are losing CJ and perhaps moving to a three at the back I wouldn't mind the idea of him and Keane next to Esteve. Not out of contract but presumably relatively cheap)
Jamie Vardy (on a free, already linked but unsure how likely it is - I would be all over it for a year)
Wilfred Ndidi (apparently available for £9m - no brainer in my opinion if he was up for it)
Solly March (just never hear of him at Brighton these days, he was brilliant year in year out. Injury issues perhaps? I'd ask the question)
James Ward-Prowse (was out of favour at West Ham, but has been in the team under Potter mostly - could still see him being available)
Jordan Ayew (one of those players who seems to always do alright each season. Not sure on his availability from Leicester)

Would obviously like to see the club do a couple of big deals on more progressive types with value ahead of them again - but I think some of that list coming in to supplement what is still an inexperienced team, at this level, would be wise.

[NewClaret]

Just musing on potential business this morning. I'd really like to see 4 or so 28-33 year old players from the Premier League coming in, be that on loan or permanent.

Won’t quote the whole lot, but in summary, I agree. A lot of good frees in there.

You’d think there could be some deals where we sign them for one year, reasonable wages, but with a big bonus if they keep us up. Then a second year option for us or we go our separate ways if we go down.

Of your list Soucek, Tete (remember Long Time Lurker recommending him prior to joining Fulham) and Wilson would be good bets for us. I’ve not watched any of them recently though, and haven’t followed their injury records, so going off games I’ve watched a few years back more than anything else.

Alongside that, a couple of Cool’s list of they can be signed at reasonable prices and in my view they’d be more as backstops for the relegation scenario. We need to keep an eye on that and build both a squad we think can have a good shot at the Premier League but also put us in a very strong position if we go down. Players that will stay. I think a lot in the Championship will be vastly over valued so probably only Salech I’d take a punt on.

Then a couple in the Esteve, Assignon, Koleosho mould of cheapish players with big potential for sell on.

I think we need to be really careful not to go for a massive ‘deadwood’ clear out though. We’ve seen the CJ impact this season and we have a lot of players in our squad capable of doing very well in the Championship with a run of games so we need to have one eye on the almost-inevitable drop whilst balancing the need to give ourselves a fighting chance.

[CoolClaret]

Alongside that, a couple of Cool’s list of they can be signed at reasonable prices and in my view they’d be more as backstops for the relegation scenario. We need to keep an eye on that and build both a squad we think can have a good shot at the Premier League but also put us in a very strong position if we go down. Players that will stay. I think a lot in the Championship will be vastly over valued so probably only Salech I’d take a punt on.

That's exactly my thinking.

Would some be overpriced? No doubt, the thing is though, look at so many of the top performers in the PL and so many were once young champ standouts. I think it's about as 'risk free' as we can hope for given our constraints,

Players like Soucek would be unreal, I think he's superb and just what we need in the middle of the park. just can't see it happening.

Coufal great player but looks like his legs are going, you don't want a player north of 30 rocking up, one of highest earners and not being up to it.

We do need a touch more, preferably PL experience, but it's imperative (and the club won't), sign too many north of 28 with minimal resale value. Two would be my max in that age bracket.

[Raconteur]

According to this article we'll be selling our best players and bringing in cheaper options. At least we haven't ended up in administartion. There really is some crap articles out there just to get attention. Guess it worked because it got mine

https://eflanalysis.com/transfers/burnl ... aunt-them/

Who writes these articles, are they paid for this

EFL expert = Graham Bailey

It says we would have been in so much trouble if we had not been promoted but then proceeds to list all the troubles even though we were promoted

[jdrobbo]

Just musing on potential business this morning. I'd really like to see 4 or so 28-33 year old players from the Premier League coming in, be that on loan or permanent. That might sound lacking foresight, not be exciting, but it's what we didn't do last time and is what that squad sorely needed in my opinion rather than expensive tubs of caviar like Amdouni and Tresor. Dyche got great value from similar types with signings like Pieters, Bardsley etc.

Players of this type I'd be interested in IF they were in anyway possible on the right sort of deal, and being realistic:

Vladimir Coufal (on a free and always seems a solid type)
Tomas Soucek (great, experienced player but would cost a fair sum - been made available by West Ham though)
Kenny Tete (on a free, signed by Parker originally at Fulham too)
Kyle Walker-Peters (on a free but possibly unlikely, would imagine he has a lot of takers out of contract)
Harrison Reed (will cost a bit, but out of favour at Fulham, already linked with us and known to Parker - solid player)
Harry Winks (always been a decent player but completely out of the picture at Leicester after he acted up under RVN)
Callum Wilson (on a free - injury prone yes but what a player if he could give us a couple of years)
Abdoulaye Doucoure (on a free, but massive wages currently at Everton, probably the case for all of these though)
Ben Davies (on a free, probably incredibly unrealistic as played 26 times for Spurs last season, not sure)
Michael Keane (on a free, if CJ is leaving this is an obvious shout and absolutely rightly so)
Ross Barkley (would be expensive both in salary and possibility of a fee - wonder if a loan is possible. Only made 3 league starts for Villa)
Conor Coady (not had the best couple of years perhaps since leaving Wolves but the right 'sort' and if we are losing CJ and perhaps moving to a three at the back I wouldn't mind the idea of him and Keane next to Esteve. Not out of contract but presumably relatively cheap)
Jamie Vardy (on a free, already linked but unsure how likely it is - I would be all over it for a year)
Wilfred Ndidi (apparently available for £9m - no brainer in my opinion if he was up for it)
Solly March (just never hear of him at Brighton these days, he was brilliant year in year out. Injury issues perhaps? I'd ask the question)
James Ward-Prowse (was out of favour at West Ham, but has been in the team under Potter mostly - could still see him being available)
Jordan Ayew (one of those players who seems to always do alright each season. Not sure on his availability from Leicester)

Would obviously like to see the club do a couple of big deals on more progressive types with value ahead of them again - but I think some of that list coming in to supplement what is still an inexperienced team, at this level, would be wise.

Lewis Dunk is looking surplus to requirements at Brighton. 33, but would add good experience.

[Elizabeth]

Some decent shouts and I'm waiting for our first nippy Japanese player to walk through the door. There have been some revelations at other clubs so why not ours. I wouldn't be adverse to a big African powerhouse in midfield

[Foshiznik]

There must be a right footed Esteve-esque player and left back at a financially stricken Ligue 1 team. Would love someone like Loris Chotard or Gloukh too

[NewClaret]

That's exactly my thinking.

Would some be overpriced? No doubt, the thing is though, look at so many of the top performers in the PL and so many were once young champ standouts. I think it's about as 'risk free' as we can hope for given our constraints,

Players like Soucek would be unreal, I think he's superb and just what we need in the middle of the park. just can't see it happening.

Coufal great player but looks like his legs are going, you don't want a player north of 30 rocking up, one of highest earners and not being up to it.

We do need a touch more, preferably PL experience, but it's imperative (and the club won't), sign too many north of 28 with minimal resale value. Two would be my max in that age bracket.

On the Champ players, I just feel there will be too many better players available in Europe that are much cheaper. Assignon, for example, I think we were buying at £8m! Someone like Rudoni (who I thought looked very average to be honest - accept I’m alone in that) would probably be double. Bellingham too, given his name. So I think we have to be very careful with that group.

But I am a big fan of us keeping a close eye on the squad from a Championship perspective. Being realistic, performing miracles every time on relegation will be tough to keep going, so I would like to see us set ourselves up with the strongest possible core to cover that eventuality, which in part is about signing players who won’t want to jump ship if we do get relegated.

On the older players, I tend to agree and think good use of the free market might be the key. One where we pay them okay but a big bonus for keeping us up on a one year deal where we’re not tied to keeping them if we go down, but have an option if we stay up. All these being let go though are mainly surplus to requirements elsewhere though. And as you say about Coufal, there’s probably a reason for that. Finding a cheap gem or two would be nice.

[ŽižkovClaret]

Soucek / Coufal i would expect to follow a well worn path for aging Czech players and play a couple of years in Turkey

[CoolClaret]

On the Champ players, I just feel there will be too many better players available in Europe that are much cheaper. Assignon, for example, I think we were buying at £8m! Someone like Rudoni (who I thought looked very average to be honest - accept I’m alone in that) would probably be double. Bellingham too, given his name. So I think we have to be very careful with that group.

But I am a big fan of us keeping a close eye on the squad from a Championship perspective. Being realistic, performing miracles every time on relegation will be tough to keep going, so I would like to see us set ourselves up with the strongest possible core to cover that eventuality, which in part is about signing players who won’t want to jump ship if we do get relegated.

On the older players, I tend to agree and think good use of the free market might be the key. One where we pay them okay but a big bonus for keeping us up on a one year deal where we’re not tied to keeping them if we go down, but have an option if we stay up. All these being let go though are mainly surplus to requirements elsewhere though. And as you say about Coufal, there’s probably a reason for that. Finding a cheap gem or two would be nice.

Again with the Champ players - just look how many that had a good few seasons there whilst they were developing are now stand out performers in the PL/were top performers (in recent years) -

Mbuemo, Watkins, Tarky, Mee, Grealish, Keane, Toney, Delap, H Wilson, Mings, Mount, H Barnes, Wharton... the list goes on and on

Rudoni has had 22 goal involvements as a 22 yr old CM/attacking midfielder; that is sensational... I think he/a player with his profile is our long term Josh Brownhill replacement

[CoolClaret]

Soucek / Coufal i would expect to follow a well worn path for aging Czech players and play a couple of years in Turkey

Žižkov, have you seen much/any of Martin Vitík playing?

[Jakubs Tash]

Just musing on potential business this morning. I'd really like to see 4 or so 28-33 year old players from the Premier League coming in, be that on loan or permanent. That might sound lacking foresight, not be exciting, but it's what we didn't do last time and is what that squad sorely needed in my opinion rather than expensive tubs of caviar like Amdouni and Tresor. Dyche got great value from similar types with signings like Pieters, Bardsley etc.

Players of this type I'd be interested in IF they were in anyway possible on the right sort of deal, and being realistic:

Vladimir Coufal (on a free and always seems a solid type)
Tomas Soucek (great, experienced player but would cost a fair sum - been made available by West Ham though)
Kenny Tete (on a free, signed by Parker originally at Fulham too)
Kyle Walker-Peters (on a free but possibly unlikely, would imagine he has a lot of takers out of contract)
Harrison Reed (will cost a bit, but out of favour at Fulham, already linked with us and known to Parker - solid player)
Harry Winks (always been a decent player but completely out of the picture at Leicester after he acted up under RVN)
Callum Wilson (on a free - injury prone yes but what a player if he could give us a couple of years)
Abdoulaye Doucoure (on a free, but massive wages currently at Everton, probably the case for all of these though)
Ben Davies (on a free, probably incredibly unrealistic as played 26 times for Spurs last season, not sure)
Michael Keane (on a free, if CJ is leaving this is an obvious shout and absolutely rightly so)
Ross Barkley (would be expensive both in salary and possibility of a fee - wonder if a loan is possible. Only made 3 league starts for Villa)
Conor Coady (not had the best couple of years perhaps since leaving Wolves but the right 'sort' and if we are losing CJ and perhaps moving to a three at the back I wouldn't mind the idea of him and Keane next to Esteve. Not out of contract but presumably relatively cheap)
Jamie Vardy (on a free, already linked but unsure how likely it is - I would be all over it for a year)
Wilfred Ndidi (apparently available for £9m - no brainer in my opinion if he was up for it)
Solly March (just never hear of him at Brighton these days, he was brilliant year in year out. Injury issues perhaps? I'd ask the question)
James Ward-Prowse (was out of favour at West Ham, but has been in the team under Potter mostly - could still see him being available)
Jordan Ayew (one of those players who seems to always do alright each season. Not sure on his availability from Leicester)

Would obviously like to see the club do a couple of big deals on more progressive types with value ahead of them again - but I think some of that list coming in to supplement what is still an inexperienced team, at this level, would be wise.

I would also add Aaron Cresswell to that list too. West Ham left back who has recently been released I think.

[bodge]

The 2 full back positions are the priority for upgrade as that’s where the premier league quality and threats lie for example Salah, Mitoma, Mbeumo, Semenyo, Doku, Son, Saka etc.

Pires in particular would be very disappointed but it’s a needs must for me.

[FeedTheArf]

I would also add Aaron Cresswell to that list too. West Ham left back who has recently been released I think.

Would be a great signing on a 12-month deal. I've always thought he was a decent player back to his Ipswich days

[Fretters]

The 2 full back positions are the priority for upgrade as that’s where the premier league quality and threats lie for example Salah, Mitoma, Mbeumo, Semenyo, Doku, Son, Saka etc.

Pires in particular would be very disappointed but it’s a needs must for me.

I agree. I wonder if Charlie Taylor could be an option? Only played 7 games for Southampton and still only 31.

[bodge]

Think Cresswell would be the better option Fretters as he offers set piece delivery as well.

[ŽižkovClaret]

Žižkov, have you seen much/any of Martin Vitík playing?

Nope, i tend to avoid sparta with their Nazi minority fanbase

[sjb]

Think Cresswell would be the better option Fretters as he offers set piece delivery as well.

Has been a decent player but he's 35 now.

[warksclaret]

I agree. I wonder if Charlie Taylor could be an option? Only played 7 games for Southampton and still only 31.

There's a reason he's only played 7 times for a PL side that has, bar one point, the worst points tally in history

[Fretters]

There's a reason he's only played 7 times for a PL side that has, bar one point, the worst points tally in history

Maybe they'd have got more points with Chaz playing every week!

[NewClaret]

Again with the Champ players - just look how many that had a good few seasons there whilst they were developing are now stand out performers in the PL/were top performers (in recent years) -

Mbuemo, Watkins, Tarky, Mee, Grealish, Keane, Toney, Delap, H Wilson, Mings, Mount, H Barnes, Wharton... the list goes on and on

Rudoni has had 22 goal involvements as a 22 yr old CM/attacking midfielder; that is sensational... I think he/a player with his profile is our long term Josh Brownhill replacement

Good list, but conversely if you made a ‘cheap foreign imports’ list I think you’d find it was much longer in reality.

Also, most of those players have been bought by established clubs who have bigger budgets and critically an established team to bed them in.

I’m not saying we shouldn’t, just I think they’re relatively expensive for what is a pretty poor league in reality.

If Rudoni were £10m I’d agree with you but you hear the price is £20m and then it becomes a big risk.

I trust the club to get it right, or at least better this time though.

[CoolClaret]

Good list, but conversely if you made a ‘cheap foreign imports’ list I think you’d find it was much longer in reality.

Also, most of those players have been bought by established clubs who have bigger budgets and critically an established team to bed them in.

I’m not saying we shouldn’t, just I think they’re relatively expensive for what is a pretty poor league in reality.

If Rudoni were £10m I’d agree with you but you hear the price is £20m and then it becomes a big risk.

I trust the club to get it right, or at least better this time though.

Cheap foreign imports such as? Then we risk harming the team spirit et al.

Of course, £20 mill is daft for a player like Rudoni, but so was shelling out nearly that for a player like Amdouni, £7/8 mill for Foster, and however much for Trésor.

There's some risk mitigation having already performed in England, in a competitive league and with a young age profile, scope for growth.

[NewClaret]

Cheap foreign imports such as? Then we risk harming the team spirit et al.

Of course, £20 mill is daft for a player like Rudoni, but so was shelling out nearly that for a player like Amdouni, £7/8 mill for Foster, and however much for Trésor.

There's some risk mitigation having already performed in England, in a competitive league and with a young age profile, scope for growth.

Pretty much all Premier League signings are from abroad these days vs the Championship where one or two might be picked off per season. It’s very few in the overall context of transfer business.

I agree with your points that we’ve spent similar sums on other players not cut out for English football though, and the potential impact of foreign players on team morale though.

[Targetman]

On the Champ players, I just feel there will be too many better players available in Europe that are much cheaper. Assignon, for example, I think we were buying at £8m! Someone like Rudoni (who I thought looked very average to be honest - accept I’m alone in that) would probably be double. Bellingham too, given his name. So I think we have to be very careful with that group.

But I am a big fan of us keeping a close eye on the squad from a Championship perspective. Being realistic, performing miracles every time on relegation will be tough to keep going, so I would like to see us set ourselves up with the strongest possible core to cover that eventuality, which in part is about signing players who won’t want to jump ship if we do get relegated.

On the older players, I tend to agree and think good use of the free market might be the key. One where we pay them okay but a big bonus for keeping us up on a one year deal where we’re not tied to keeping them if we go down, but have an option if we stay up. All these being let go though are mainly surplus to requirements elsewhere though. And as you say about Coufal, there’s probably a reason for that. Finding a cheap gem or two would be nice.

You are not alone in thinking that Rudoni is an average Championship player.

[NewClaret]

You are not alone in thinking that Rudoni is an average Championship player.

Phew. I did think it was just me that couldn’t see it

I think he’s a solid player, and would not be against his signing (or others) where the view is that we give them a shot at being part of a premier league squad, in return for having a very strong championship player if we go down, but he’s not what we need to help us stay in the premier league in my view.

[CoolClaret]

Pretty much all Premier League signings are from abroad these days vs the Championship where one or two might be picked off per season. It’s very few in the overall context of transfer business.

I agree with your points that we’ve spent similar sums on other players not cut out for English football though, and the potential impact of foreign players on team morale though.

Of course, but if you had to choose which league has the most significant representation of players going into the PL then it's going to be the Champ.

Hardly fair to say most are from abroad - of course... recruiting from what 10+ leagues/countries vs one league?

[CharlieinNewMexico]

Ipswich went the “let’s buy good championship players “ route.
Greaves 21m Jack Clarke 18m Szmodics 10m Ogbene 10m and then there’s Philogene 24m Dara 14m Muric 10m Delap 20m who made their names primarily in the Championship.

127m on good championship players and one has panned out and they’re down again, facing the prospect of another rebuild as we found out, the good ones don’t want to play there again.

(Admittedly they’ll get 35m + for Delap)

[randomclaret2]

Ipswich went the “let’s buy good championship players “ route.
Greaves 21m Jack Clarke 18m Szmodics 10m Ogbene 10m and then there’s Philogene 24m Dara 14m Muric 10m Delap 20m who made their names primarily in the Championship.

127m on good championship players and one has panned out and they’re down again, facing the prospect of another rebuild as we found out, the good ones don’t want to play there again.

(Admittedly they’ll get 35m + for Delap)

I'd rather we went into the upcoming season with what we have than go down the Ipswich route. The outcome is likely to be the same but we'd be £120m better off

[CoolClaret]

Ipswich went the “let’s buy good championship players “ route.
Greaves 21m Jack Clarke 18m Szmodics 10m Ogbene 10m and then there’s Philogene 24m Dara 14m Muric 10m Delap 20m who made their names primarily in the Championship.

127m on good championship players and one has panned out and they’re down again, facing the prospect of another rebuild as we found out, the good ones don’t want to play there again.

(Admittedly they’ll get 35m + for Delap)

Ipswich were also coming at it with a squad predominantly assembled in League One and I don't know about facing a rebuild? Not many of them have done enough to get another PL move but they will certainly be fighting for the top 2 next season.

More on their signings - Szmodics too old for that sort of cash, Greaves I thought was a poor signing... Unfortunately, Ogbene got injured.

I'm not saying buy 8 championship players either. But players that are under 23 and performing to a high level (Ivanovic, Rudoni, Salech)... no brainers for me.

[Spijed]

We signed Pope, JBG, Tarkowski, Wood (7 games at PL level), Mee etc. all pretty much unproven as to whether they'd be good enough for the Prem.

All turned out to be very good at that level.

[AfloatinClaret]

...Bellingham too, given his name. So I think we have to be very careful with that group.

I like Bellingham, he is not his brother, but he is a very decent Championship/bottom end of the EPL player, unfortunately because of that name, everyone expects too much of him. Also and again because of his name, Sunderland will expect too much for him, which makes him a bit like a polo shirt with a crocodile on it... A nice enough shirt, but you can buy equally good without that crocodile for a lot less money.

[Tricky Trevor]

Winks fall out with RVN was because he refused to move North to the Leicester area. I doubt he’d come further North.

[CharlieinNewMexico]

On the left back front, I notice Leif Davis played for Parker.