Ranking Every Championship Side’s Transfer Business (Part One) – Talk the Football Leagu
- Sam Greasley-Machin
- Aug 12, 2019
- 6 min read
Wayne Rooney at Manchester United, credit; Flickr (MikeEgerton)
The transfer window has slammed shut and a total of £151,866,000 was spent in the Championship across 300 arrivals. 316 players also departed the division for a combined £280.479,420 (estimations according to Trasnfermarkt, as are all figures in this article).
The quality of the league this year is like no other, the standards are higher, the calibre of managers is greater and the depth of teams is immense, but not only for the top sides also across the board. This year on paper looks set to be one of the most exciting and competitive campaigns in years, as if it wasn’t already.
Each side has strengthened over the summer whether it be Derby bringing England’s all-time top goal-scorer to Pride Park or Jose Gomes bringing one of Europe’s hottest talents at the under-21 European Championships to Reading (yes the Royals actually put their hands in their pockets). The calibre is like no other as we look to rate each sides transfer dealings. We won’t be looking at every individual transfer only a general roundup for each side. Here’s part one, let’s go!
Barnsley – 4/10
With far from the biggest budget in the league Barnsley have had little money at their disposal with their biggest arrival Luke Thomas from Derby at a reported £1.22m. No doubt the arrival of Conor Chaplin could be a great piece of business, but on the whole they’ve not had the funds to seriously add to their side.
St Andrews home of Birmingham City, credit; WikiCommons (fitzyt)
Birmingham City – 6/10
Pep Clotet’s transfer dealings have mainly consisted of unkown talent, while it could turn out to be some excellent pieces of business the Blues have failed to adequately replace Che Adams. They missed out on top forward target George Puscas to Reading and splashed out £7.2m on Ivan Sunjic. The Croatian is no doubt set to be a big talent, but as a defensive midfielder that money could have been better spent elsewhere. Admittedly Dan Crowley looks to be a good signing for £702k, as was the arrival of Jefferson Montero on a free transfer.
Blackburn Rovers – 7/10
After recent troubles Rovers look to be building something under Tony Mowbray. They’ve had a fairly successful summer in bringing in a much needed goal-scorer with Sam Gallagher for £5m. The additions of Adarabioyo will no doubt have a big impact at the back while Stewart Downing and Bradley Johnson add so good Championship experience to the side. Overall they’ve done some good business and have improved their side with fairly limited expenditure without losing anyone notable other than goalkeeper Raya.
Brentford – 8/10
Had Brentford kept Neal Maupay they would have had a great summer and look to finally challenge the play-off places. However, they cashed in to Brighton and failed to bring in a top replacement, as with Romaine Sawyers. But, still the Bees, as ever, conducted some good business in bringing in Martin Jensen, Christian Norgaard and Bryan Mbeumo – all other which might be unrecognisable to most, but are all highly rated and how often is it the Brentford scouting team gets it wrong. The addition of Pontus Jansson at the back is a fantastic deal as is retaining the services of Said Benrahma. They also managed to make good money on Ezri Konsa, as well as the other departures previously mentioned, giving them £34m in income.
Bristol City – 9/10
Lee Johnson’s best bit of business was perhaps selling Adam Webster and Lloyd Kelly for a combined £32.9m. The players this was used to bring in were all great pieces of business with the return of Tomas Kalas and Kasey Palmer (this time permanently). Daniel Bentley is certainly an upgrade inbetween the sticks, while Han-Noah Massengo is a huge prospect. Adam Nagy looks like a great player for the Championship while a duo of loans in Benick Afobe and Pedro Pereira see City strengthen across the board to give them hopes of a play-off finish.
Charlton Athletic – 6/10
As ever Lee Bowyer at the Valley has had to conduct his business under the radar. Losing Patrick Bauer on a free transfer was no doubt a big hit to take, but only the real big outgoing. The arrivals of Jonathan Leko and Sam Field on-loan will no doubt add quality to the side, but with little to spend Charlton haven’t had the overhaul needed to look like a solid Championship side. Adding Beram Kayal though was a great piece of business. All-in-all considering the lack of finances and just coming up they have had a good window keeping hold of goal-scorer Lyle Taylor was no doubt their best activity during the window.
Jimmy Seed stand at the Valley home of Charlton, credit; Geograph (Steve Daniels)
Cardiff City – 6/10
Neil Warnock goes into his final season having had a mediocre summer, but having just dropped from the Premier League they had no need to go spending excessive amounts. The Bluebirds have improved at their back with Aden Flint coming in for £4m, while deals for Robert Glatzel and Gavin Whyte could be great pieces of business at a combined £7m. Although losing both Bobby Reid and Kenneth Zohore means they are relying heavily Omar Bogle, Gary Madine and the unproven Glatzel where they have failed to seriously strengthen up-top. With Will Vaulks and Isaac Vassell both adding some depth along with bringing experience at this level.
Derby County – 10/10
If anyone would have said two months ago Wayne Rooney would be playing at Derby County they would have been sent to the local hospital to have their head checked. Nonetheless it’s been done, albeit with the help of a Casino company, but England’s all-time leading goal-scorer has joined a Dutch revolution. Despite playing in the MLS, ‘Wazza’ was still putting in some great performances with the occasional half-way line lob. He will be a great addition to what is already a stacked side. The arrival of Krystian Bielik was a good piece of business, although it was an expensive one at £7m, and will no doubt be one for the future. The loan-deals of Matt Clarke, Jamie Paterson and Kieran Dowell all add some fantastic, experienced depth to Cocu’s side on-top of what was already a strong squad. The only players they lost were all aging and not starters, so a great window overall.
Fulham – 10/10
Fulham already had one of the strongest, if not strongest, sides in the division and only improved upon that over the summer. A whole host of talented loan signings sees them looking destined for an instant return. Josh Onomah, Ivan Cavaleiro, Harrison Reed, Anthony Knockaert, Harry Arter and Bobby Reid are all fantastic arrivals and no doubt give Scott Parker an impeccable squad at his disposal. Perhaps not being able to bring Michael Hector in on deadline day in time could be seen as a slight negative, but the pedigree of their squad is a different class. Admitedtly losing Ryan Sessgnon isn’t great, but realistically they were never going to keep his services.
Huddersfield Town – 5/10
The Terriers didn’t particularly bring in a host of talent other than Isaac Mbenza, a promising winger. Huddersfield, like Cardiff, didn’t necessarily need to bring in a host of players having already got a strong squad from the Premier League, but losing Aaron Mooy is no doubt a huge blow to them having been a great propellant in their initial promotion and a stand-out in the top-flight. The money they made on Patrick Billing was no doubt admirable at £15m.
Hull City – 5/10
The best piece of business at the KCOM this summer was no doubt keeping hold of Kamil Grosicki and Jarrod Bowen, two highly talented wingers that can see them go from a relegation battlers to midtable mediocrity. Money was tight at Hull with the majority of their arrivals coming from League One in attempt to look for bargains, but that remains to be seen. Two Everton loans will no doubt add to their side, but for a team with a new manager in charge they’ve not had the turnover you might expect.
Leeds manager Marcelo Bielsa, credit: WikiCommons (Mathieu )
Leeds United – 8/10
Marcelo Bielsa side were operating under tigh constraints this summer, but they still had a fairly successful window. The Whites kept the majority of their side that took them to the play-offs last year and added quality with the loan deals of Helder Costa and Eddie Nketiah adding some good adding threat. Bringing Jack Clarke back on-loan was also a good piece of business seeing them have one of the best set of wingers in the league.
Part two will beon the way soon but in the mean time don’t forget to follow TalktheFootballleague on Twitter to hear all the latest Football League news and discussions @TalktheFL.
By Sam Greasley-Machin
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