Yeah, whatever your thoughts on the success of the transfers this season - we absolutely needed to invest in the summer. We had to replace the departing loan players from last season, who made key contributions (Sarmiento, Moore). We needed to replace Hdlaky, who'd rather sit on the bench at Burnley for the pleasure of an additional year on his contract. Without new signings, we wouldn't have the depth in the squad to cover for injuries - key players from last season (Burns, Chaplin, Hirst) have missed months from prolonged injury absences.
Our Premier League transfer business - for all its criticisms - makes sense from the perspective that we've at least signed players who are proven top Championship talent. In my opinion, it's positioned us to make a quicker return to the Premier League. That strategy (whether you agree with it or not) will fall apart if we end up selling the likes of Jack Clarke. Our most saleable asset is Delap, we are powerless to prevent him leaving if he's got a release clause. We're then likely going to sell a couple more first teamers (the promoted sides will likely have eyes on O'Shea). Burgess and Tuanzebe are likely off on frees. There's a chance Davis goes, but he hasn't lived up to the hype this season so I can't see a club willing to spend big on him.
We'll need to invest again in the summer. Central midfield needs a couple of additions. We'll need depth in defence if first team players depart. We'll need a centre forward to replace Delap/add competition to Hirst. Other than that, I think we've got more than a good enough squad to compete for promotion. What we ideally don't want to be doing is selling off players like Greaves, Jack Clarke, Philogene, and Szmodics - who we've brought in as our proven top end Championship talent - as we'll just be back to square one.
