New Reading signing George Puscas in action for Romania, credit; WikiCommons (Rolandhino1)
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. Part one can be found here, but here's part two!
Newly promoted Luton were never going to be able top compete in the market with the majority of the Championship's sides, but the arrivals of Izzy Brown and James Bree look to be good loan signings. While the additions of the likes of Ryan Tunnicliffe, Callum McManaman and Martin Cranie add league experience to the side. The whole quality of the side though is still lacking and it looks to be a tough season for them.
Riverside stadium home of Middlesbrough, credit; Flickr (John Lord)
Middlesbrough - 4/10
For a side that have not been afraid to spend in recent years Boro have had a fairly quiet summer. Jonathan Woodgate's side arguably didn't need many incomings, but the loss of Aden Flint is no doubt a big hindrance at the back. Marcus Browne arriving for only 200k could turn out to be a great little buy, but for now the signings all lack any real ability to contest first team football.
Millwall - 7/10
It's becoming a regular occurrence, but Millwall are another side operating under very tight constraints however, they look like they've had a fairly good summer. The arrivals of Jon dadi Bodvarsson and Matt Smith won't set the world alight but are certainly upgrades on Steve Morrison and Lee Gregory. Bringing in Connor Mahoney could be a good little buy, as was upgrading the goalkeeping options. Neil Harris hasn't lost anyone of any real talent in the squad and has only upgraded on what was available last summer so can be seen as a successful window at the new Den.
Nottingham Forest - 9/10
Forest fans probably couldn't have asked for a better summer. The arrival of a new manager has seen a squad transformation bringing in 14 new faces across the pitch. More or less every position has been sorted with either a new player or some good back-up all without spending very much at all. Albert Adomah, Carl Jenkinson and Arijanet Muric are some of the stand out arrivals in what is now a very stacked squad that can look to compete at the top.
Preston North End - 7/10
As ever with the 'Preston way' Alex Neil's side have spent very little. Losing Callum Robinson left a void in their squad which was adequately fixed with the loan signing of Andre Green, a great deal. The arrival of Patrick was another one those great deals Preston are all too well known for. Tom Bayliss certainly looks one for the future while David Nugent offers something different going forward. The core of the squad is still relatively similar so it has been a good summer up at Deepdale.
Queens Park Rangers - 6/10
Mark Warburton's side were having quite a poor summer until the late arrivals, just like last year, of two strikers. One familiar in the return of Nahki Wells and a new face in Jordan Hugill are two great deals for the club that can see them go from relegation contenders to comfortable survivors. Adding Geoff Cameron to the mix looks to be a successful signing and keeping Eberechi Eze was an even better one.
Madejski Stadium home of Reading, credit; WikiCommons (Mark Hilliary)
Reading - 9/10
This summer for Reading fans has been one of the best in memory, they actually spent some money too. Despite acting under a transfer embargo the Royals have managed to pull off some excellent pieces of business. The re-signing of Matt Miazga at the back sets them up with one of the best defensive central pairings in the league. The additions of Pele, from Monaco, Ovie Ejaria, from Liverpool, and Lucas Boye, from Torino, bring in some quality from top sides. Rafael on a free is a Brazilian international while splashing out £13m on two strikers is unheard of in Berkshire. Lucas Joao makes a great signing to any club in the division, but perhaps their best piece of business was signing one of Europe's hottest prospects on the under-21 Championships in George Puscas from Inter. Not to mention Charlie Adam and Michael Morrison joining on frees and adding some experience to a side that now could easily challenge for the play-offs, on paper anyway. It was only before the window they had a squad looking like it could face relegation.
Sheffield Wednesday - 6/10
The biggest loss of the Owls window was seeing Steve Bruce abandon them for the Premier League. Lee Bullen has come in as caretaker and oversaw the sale of Lucas Joao for £5m, a fee that no doubt every Wednesday fan will be happy with and is perhaps a little expensive even in the current market. Brinigng in Massimo Luongo was a good deal for the Yorkshire club as was the arrival of Moses Odubajo on a free transfer. Overall they had an average summer, but with the manager uncertainty that perhaps would have been expected, even with the powers above brining in players.
Stoke City - 7/10
Nathan Jones has overseen a squad overhaul at the Bet 365 this summer with five free transfer being announced all at once. Of those Nick Powell, Stephen Ward and Jordan Cousins all bring valuable league experience and with Powell an exciting midfielder to watch. The arrival of Tommy Smith was an expensive one at £4m when their only outgoing of value was Erik Pieters. Scott Hogan arriving on loan from Aston Villa is a great deal if he can find the form that he had at Brentford and not the slump the forward had at Villa Park, but with little risk an all round promising piece of business. Ultimately this summer was always going to be a rebuilding project and that is exactly what Stoke have done.
Swansea City - 610
The Swans summer won't be one to remember in losing manager Graham Potter and star players Ollie McBurnie and Daniel James, the players without adequate replacements. It will be a struggle to see where the goals will come and was attempted to be mitigated with the loan signing of Sam Surridge from Bournemouth, but it's questionable if he has the quality at this level. Perhaps with Borja Baston returning that will be like a new signing in itself. Jake Bidwell coming in on-loan was a good deal in South Wales while the rest of the signings don't really inspire much confidence into the quality they bring, especially considering those that have departed.
West Brom manager Slaven Bilic, credit; WikiCommons (joshjdss)
West Bromwich Albion - 10/10
West Brom want a return back to the top flight and after missing out last season at the first time of asking the Baggies have gone all out over the transfer window to help secure that. Slaven Bilic coming in was hands down the best arrival at the club, being arguably better than Championship level, which can also be said for the signing of Charlie Austin. The Black Country club already had a great squad and only needed that striker to complete it and with Austin and then the arrival of Kenneth Zohore more than addressed those issues. Bringing in Romaine Sawyers was an amazing deal at only £3m, with quality to perform at a higher level. While Darnell Furlong and Semi Ajayi arriving are two players with plenty of room to grow but also great league experience coming from QPR and Rotherham respectively. It's unlikely Baggies fans could have wished for a better window.
Wigan Athletic - 7/10
The Latics were no doubt looking to progress on their league position from last year and have gone about achieving that by bringing in some transfers from League One in Jamal Lowe and Kieffer Moore. Both cost a combined £5m and look like great pieces of business after glistening seasons in League One with Portsmouth and Barnsley respectively. David Marshall coming in on a free is no doubt an upgrade in between the sticks with the arrival of Charlie Mulgrew a good centre-back at this level. Wigan's only loss they may regret is Nick Powell who departed on a free transfer, but other than that a great summer for the North-West side who will want to climb the division away from a relegation battle.
This will no doubt cause debate so don't forget to follow TalktheFootballleague on Twitter to hear all the latest Football League news and join the discussions @TalktheFL
By Sam Greasley-Machin
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