Obviously just guessing here but I imagine Bruce had approximately £5-7m to spend this window. Add to that the unexpected sale of Ince, which will be reinvested, I think we'll have around £10-12m to spend. Sounds a lot but considering we need about 8+ players it really isn't. Free's would help but all the good ones have been snapped up, though id take Carlton Cole. Add to that a couple of loans id say we have £10m to spend on 5 players. For that reason I can't see us spending anymore than £5m on a marquee summer signing.
We don't operate on a transfer budget, there's no set amount, Allam usually green lights signings as and when we need them. If he's serious about getting promoted he'll spend money, as he did in the first season, but I expect us to be a lot tighter with regards to transfer fees and we'll see a much more tactical use of the loan system, which Bruce has proven to be capable with (Elmo, Meyler, Gedo, Stockdale etc). Also, I'm not sure I agree with the ruling that "all the good free players have been taken", the ones from this country have, but there'll be loads abroad looking for clubs. I also think we might see a few more Egyptian faces this season, I've heard we're strengthening our ties to Al-Ahly, for real this time.
We have already got rid of 3 of our better players, and there'll be more to follow. Top Championship strikers cost £8-15 million in the current market, and we're just not going to spend that. Our best hopes are with speculative buys from the lower leagues and the loan market.
Or Jelly would get crocked after 5 minutes and N'Doye look like he couldn't give a **** (think Swansea away), and we'd be left with two very expensive players contributing next to nothing.
Is n't Guidetti available on a free from Man City?, and he plays for Sweden's U21, so should be decent.
Odds been slashed on Chester joining Palace tonight, knew it wouldn't be long before the PL vultures moved in.
Possibly. It's academic really because there isn't a chance N'Doye will stay. He used us to put himself in the shop window to other Premier League clubs, he's done that, he's zero interest in playing in the second tier.
I'm fully aware of that, I was just playing Devil's Advocate. Although, aside from us actually wanting to get rid of them, have any of our three strikers been quoted as saying they don't want to play for us, or are we just assuming that because we've been relegated we're no longer a good team to play for? I'd have thought plenty of teams would be queuing up for Michael Dawson, but he came out and said he's happy to stay.
We've already been linked with Andre Gray. He was one of the best Championship strikers last season. The only reason the three strikers are leaving is they don't want to play in the Championship and they have more than likely had a reduction - plus let's be honest. I wouldn't think they would even stand out in the Championship - Jelavič aside - but even he is too injury prone. It needs a freshen up - without significant investment we won't get promoted. Without significant investment it is pointless hanging onto the players we are hanging onto when in reality we could cash in on any/all of them and just look forward to maybe doing a Wigan. Given that we are wanting to hang onto core players suggests to me that Bruce will have backing for better Championship players in the market. Otherwise we may as well pack up and go home.
Thats exactly what ive been thinking to be fair, and if no one comes in with a decent price forHernandez we'll have all three and rip up the championship
Whilst I'd never claim to be 'ITK', I get the odd bit of info. Both Dawson and Chester are happy to stay, although it'd be interesting to see if Chester feels the same way if someone puts a bid in. I've no doubt Jela would play to his best if he didn't get a move away, but N'Doye will not be happy playing for a Championship team, nor will Diame. I've not heard anything regarding Hernandez but one would assume he's in the same boat. Bruce has also said how he expects those four to all go. How often do players actually come out and say, "I don't want want to play for *team name*". I know it has happened but it's very rare.
