Championship transfer window assessed

With the Championship season set to resume at the weekend after the international break – and the transfer deadline – journalists around the division assess the window for their clubs.
Burnley signed Andre Gray for a club-record feeBurnley signed Andre Gray for a club-record fee
Burnley signed Andre Gray for a club-record fee

Birmingham City

Permanent signings: 6

Incoming loans: 1

Key names: Nicolai Brock-Madsen, Tomasz Kuszczak, Jacques Maghoma.

Approximate cash spent: £680,000

Players released/sold: 10

Players loaned out: 5

Key names: Darren Randolph, Nikola Zigic, Callum Reilly

Approximate cash brought in: £0

Fans’ reaction: The Blues managed to secure some key players to contracts, so fans seem fairly happy that Gary Rowett has been able to build steadily on the good work he did last season.

Blackburn Rovers

Permanent signings: 5

Incoming loans: 1

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Key names: Fode Koita, Hope Akpan, Danny Guthrie, Tom Lawrence

Approximate cash spent: £0

Players released/sold: 11

Players loaned out: 0

Key names: Rudy Gestede, Tom Cairney, Josh King

Approximate cash brought in: £10.5million

Fans’ reaction: Relieved that they’ve kept Jordan Rhodes, as it was going to be hard enough to replace one 20-goal striker, let alone two. Given the Financial Fair Play embargo, not as bad a window as it could have been, but hardly an exciting one.

Bolton Wanderers

Permanent signings: 9

Incoming loans: 2

Key names: Ben Amos, Wellington Silva, Gary Madine

Approximate cash spent: £0

Players released/sold: 10

Players loaned out: 3

Key names: Tim Ream, Eidur Gudjohnsen, Matt Mills,,

Approximate cash brought in: £1.8million

Fans’ reaction: Wanderers fans are anxious that there are not enough goals in the squad after a record-breaking 10 hour wait at the start of the season. A new striker is a must.

Brentford

Permanent signings: 10

incoming loans: 2

Key names: Andreas Bjelland, Lasse Vibe, Maxime Colin

Approximate cash spent: £5.3m

Players released/sold: 10

Players loaned out: 1

Key names: Will Grigg, Andre Gray, Moses Odubajo

Approximate cash brought in: £14.6m

Fans’ reaction: The big money sale of Andre Gray has left Brentford with money to spend – and new boss Marinus Dijkhuizen has reached out to the continent to bring a raft of exotic names to Griffin Park.

Brighton

Permanent signings: 9

incoming loans: 0

Key names: Bobby Zamora, Elvis Manu, Uew Huenemeir

Approximate cash spent: £6m

Players released/sold: 6

Players loaned out: 2

Key names: Craig Mackail-Smith, Aaron Hughes

Approximate cash brought in: £0

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Fans’ reaction: Has been very positive. The news which most excited them was Booby Zamora’s return and the club turning down a £5 million offer for defender Lewis Dunk. But would like to see creativity added in the loan window.

Bristol City

Permanent signings: 2

Incoming loans: 4

Key names: Liam Moore, Nathan Baker, Jonathan Jodija

Approximate cash spent: £3.25m

Players released/sold: 4

Players loaned out: 1

Key names: Ryan Fredericks, Jay Emanuel Thomas

Approximate cash brought in: £250,000

Fans’ reaction: Linked with plenty of big money moves, Bristol City’s recruitment drive only really kicked into gear on transfer deadline day – but a marquee striker continues to elude Robins boss Steve Cotterill.

Burnley

Permanent signings: 6

Incoming loans: 0

Approximate cash spent: £10m (not including £2.5m for Vossen which was recouped)

Players released/sold: 9

Players loaned out: 0

Approximate cash brought in: £7.5m (plus £2.5m for Vossen, with Ings tribunal to come)

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Fans’ reaction: Burnley fans were delighted to see the club record doubled for Gray, and the arrival of Barton - despite his “previous” with Clarets supporters. However, there is great disappointment that Shackell has essentially been replaced from within, while a pacy wide man and creative midfielder is still lacking

Cardiff City

Permanent signings: 4

Incoming loans: 1

Key names: Sammy Ameobi (loan), Gabriel Tamas, Idriss Saadi, Semi Ajayi.

Approximate cash spent: Undisclosed fee for Saadi.

Players released/sold: 3

Players loaned out: 6

Key names: Javi Guerra, Adam Le Fondre, Eoin Doyle, Etien Velikonja, Filip Kiss, Rhys Healey.

Approximate cash brought in: Undisclosed fee for Guarrea from Rayo Vallacano

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Fans’ reaction: Positive. Cardiff turned down enquiries for goalkeeper David Marshall from West Brom (£4.5m offer) and for Kenwyne Jones (from Sheffield Wednesday). That plus plus the new signings and an unbeaten start mean fans are a little more upbeat than they have been for a while.

Charlton

Permanent signings: 7

Incoming loans: 1

Key names: Simon Makienok, Patrick Bauer, Naby Sarr, Zak Bergdich

Approximate cash spent: £2.5m

Players released/sold: 11

Players loaned out: 6

Key names: Tal Ben Haim, Joe Gomez, Lawrie Wilson

Approximate cash brought in: £3.5m

Fans’ reaction: A good window with unheralded quality in the shape of Patrick Bauer and Algerian midfielder Ahmed Kashi. Supporters concerned at a lack of depth and cover when you get beyond first-choice 18.

Derby County

Permanent signings: 9

Incoming loans: 0

Key names: Darren Bent, Bradley Johnson, Tom Ince

Approximate cash spent: £24m

Players released/sold: 7

Players loaned out: 5

Key names: Jamie Ward, Conor Sammon, Kelle Roos

Approximate cash brought in: £0

Fans’ reaction: Steve McClaren has been backed with firm hard cash this summer as he builds a squad of which most Championship managers would be envious. Fans’ expectancy goes up with the price.

Fulham

Permanent signings: 9

Incoming loans: 3

Key names: Tom Cairney, Jamie O’Hara, Tim Ream

Approximate cash spent: £7m

Players released/sold: 14

Players loaned out: 9

Key names: Bryan Ruiz, Patrick Roberts.

Approximate cash brought in: £12m

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Fans’ reaction: For some strange reason, there is a hardcore who insist Kit Symons is the wrong manager. A surprise, bearing in mind he was a former playing favourite. But most reckon this squad is miles better than last year’s.

How could it be otherwise? Whisper the name Felix Magath softly around Craven Cottage.

Huddersfield Town

Permanent signings: 5

Incoming loans: 3

Key names: Kyle Dempsey, Emyr Huws, Mustapha Carayol

Approximate cash spent: £700,000

Players released/sold: 10

Players loaned out: 6

Key names: Alex Smithies, Conor Coady

Approximate cash brought in: £10.4m

Fans’ reaction: Slight frustration among Town supporters that more has not been spent in the transfer market after some big departures, although the club are expected to be active in the loan market soon.

Hull City

Permanent signings: 5

Incoming loans: 2

Key names: Chuba Akpom, Shaun Maloney, Moses Odubajo

Approximate cash spent: £7m

Players released/sold: 13

Players loaned out: 0

Key names: James Chester, Robbie Brady, Nikica Jelavic

Approximate cash brought in: £25m

Fans’ reaction: Plenty feared the worst after relegation from the Premier League but what remains is a squad more than capable of challenging for promotion. The doom and gloom is lifting.

Ipswich Town

Permanent signings: 9

Incoming loans: 2

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Key names: Ryan Fraser, Brett Pitman, Ainsley Maitland-Niles, Tommy Oar

Approximate cash spent: £300k

Players released/sold: 8

Players loaned out: 2

Key names: Tyrone Mings, Paul Anderson

Approximate cash brought in: £8m

Fans’ reaction: Odd grumble that owner Marcus Evans didn’t loosen the purse strings more following the £8m sale of Tyrone Mings to Bournemouth, but a flying start to the season has the vast majority hailing another shrewd summer’s wheeling and dealing by Mick McCarthy. Wingers have been significantly upgraded, while there is the best strength in depth for many years. Those being picking may have liked to see an attack-minded right-back added.

Leeds United

Permanent signings: 7

Incoming loans: 1

Key names: Chris Wood, Sol Bamba, Stuart Dallas, Tom Adeyemi.

Approximate cash spent: £5m

Players released/sold: 9

Players loaned out: None

Key names: Billy Sharp, Rodolph Austin, Steve Morison.

Approximate cash brought in: £300,000-£500,000

Fans’ reaction: This goes down as the best summer transfer window for years - which rather underlines how badly Leeds have handled them in the past. The club have made good, sensible signings in the areas where they genuinely needed players and, perhaps more importantly, they avoided selling any of their kids. Another winger and another centre-back might have been helpful but they’re in promising shape.

Middlesbrough

Permanent signings: 5

Incoming loans: 5

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Key names: Stewart Downing, David Nugent, Cristhian Stuani, Carlos de Pena

Approximate cash spent: £15.7m

Players released/sold: 4

Players loaned out: 3

Key names: Lee Tomlin, Emmanuel Ledesma, Mustapha Carayol

Approximate cash brought in: £3.5m

Fans’ reaction: The Boro faithful are buzzing after watching a succession of exciting signings rock up at the Riverside Stadium during what’s been a memorable transfer window following years of belt-tightening.

MK Dons

Permanent signings: 6

Incoming loans: 4

Key names: Cristian Benavente, Dale Jennings, Simon Church.

Approximate cash spent: £0

Players released/sold: 3

Players loaned out: 2

Key names: Danny Green

Approximate cash brought in: £0

Fans’ reaction: Disappointed not to pick up last season’s top scorer Will Grigg, out-priced by League 1 club Wigan. Not entirely convinced there’s enough up front, with Sam Gallagher (loan from Southampton) and Simon Church yet to score this season.

Nottingham Forest

Permanent signings: 3

Incoming loans: 5

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Key names: Matt Mills, Jamie Ward, Chris O’Grady, Jonny Williams

Approximate cash spent: £0.

Players released/sold: 9

Players loaned out: 2

Key names: Michail Antonio, Jamie Mackie, Danny Collins, Djamel Abdoun, Radi Majewski, Jamie Paterson.

Approximate cash brought in: £7m

Fans’ reaction: Losing Michail Antonio to West Ham was a blow, but the £7m fee will help the club emerge from their FFP transfer embargo next summer. Hanging on to Henri Lansbury and Michael Mancienne was a major victory, while Dougie Freedman has trimmed the wage bill and made a couple of astute additions.

Preston North End

Permanent signings: 5

Incoming loans: 4

Approximate cash spent: £1m

Players released/sold: 9

Players loaned out: none

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Approximate cash brought in: none (all released or end of contracts)

Fans’ reaction: Pretty happy I would say, the deadline-day signings of Stevie May and Eoin Doyle made fans breath a little easier after the loss of Jermaine Beckford to a knee injury

QPR

Permanent signings: 13 (11 plus two loans)

Incoming loans: none

Key names: Tjaronn Chery, Mass Luongo, Jamie Mackie, not to mention the fact they retained Charlie Austin against all odds.

Approximate cash spent: £5.75m

Players released/sold: dozens it seems: 16 in reality

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Players loaned out: five: Steven Caulker, the only significant departure

Key names: Charlie Austin, Rob Green, Nedum Onuoha

Approximate cash brought in: No one sold, but megabucks in wages saved. Best guess is £5m a year, and counting.

Fans’ reaction: Accepting of new pragmatic QPR where high wages are at a premium.

Most fans think those brought in can do a Championship job, and right now are dancing with delight the three obvious Prem League targets (Austin, Phillips, Green) are all still with the club.

Reading

Permanent signings: 6

incoming signings: 6

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Key names: Matej Vydra, Paul McShane, Stephen Quinn, Orlando Sa

Approximate cash spent: £4.5m (including £2.5m loan fee for Vydra, which equals the club’s record ever transfer fee)

Players released/sold: 12

Players loaned out: 3

Key names: Adam Federici, Alex Pearce, Jem Karacan

Approximate cash brought in: £0

Fans’ reaction: Delighted. Lots of excitement after Steve Clarke completely revamped his squad. The deadline day capture of Matej Vydra was the icing on the cake.

Rotherham United

Permanent signings: 9

Incoming loans: 5

Key names: Lewis Buxton, Chris Maguire, Aidy White

Approximate cash spent: £0

Players released/sold: 11

Players loaned out: 0

Key names: Ben Pringle, Craig Morgan

Approximate cash brought in: £0

Fans’ reaction: Realistic, although Millers fans feel more confident that Steve Evans has a squad capable of aiming a little higher than mere survival this season.

Sheffield Wednesday

Permanent signings: 15

Incoming loans: 5

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Key names: Fernando Forestieri, Marco Matias, Lucas Joao, Modou Sougou.

Approximate cash spent: £9m

Players released/sold: 14

Players loaned out: 1

Key names: Stevie May, Chris Kirkland, Jacques Maghoma, Chris Maguire.

Approximate cash brought in: £1m

Fans’ reaction: Pleased with the majority of the recruitment drive but feel they have missed a trick in failing to land a proven, prolific goal-scorer at this level.

Wolves

Permanent signings: 4

Incoming loans: 3

Key names: Conor Coady, Sheyi Ojo, Adam Le Fondre

Approximate cash spent: £3.2m

Players released/sold: 9

Players loaned out: 4

Key names: Richard Stearman, Bakary Sako, Leon Clarke

Approximate cash brought in: £1.5m

Fans’ reaction: Kenny Jackett had to find goals after losing Sako to Crystal Palace but has made some decent signings and has the backing of the Wolves faithful. The sale of Richard Stearman on deadline day was a bitter pill for some, however.