Based on his early interviews, Sigurdsson originally seemed to have moved to Rovers with the intention of proving himself in England and earning a Prem move. He may fancy himself with a full pre season to do enough this season for a newly promoted team to take a chance on him on a free next summer? He did look pretty good in his first few games for us, so especially if Szmodics is sold, and the team is more built around supplying chances to Sigurdsson, he may flourish this season. I am not saying this will happen, just that Sigurdsson may fancy his chances of earning a mega money move next summer in the same way that we might buy a lottery ticket in the hope of winning it big

and the other 2 will be McFadzean and Fleck (if they sign after Sunday they will be free agents and technically new signings) I am only half joking

To be honest, If I was Murphy, you would struggle to convince me that I would be first choice ahead of Dolan and Sigurdsson (assuming at least one of them is staying for at least this season), but he might fancy his chances of being in the first 11 more against the likes of Callum Lang, Paddy Lane and Gavin White at Portsmouth. Edit - Not saying Dolan and Siggy are world beaters, just that they are better than the options Portsmouth have in wide positions

Not unless you consider London (where he was born) or Norwich (where he spent his youth career) to be local to the area https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Josh_Murphy Not sure we missed out on much there, he scored 1 goal more than Siggy (making this comparison because both are right footed players who played wide left) from 1 game less (in the division below), and for a team fighting for promotion rather than relegation.

To be honest, I cannot see a reason why any club with ambition and owners who are willing to put money in, are not already doing this on a massive level. FFP is a farce, and one that should be abolished

Haven't Brazil been quite pragmatic since at least the 90s now?

Last time they were in the Championship they spent millions (including outbidding Rovers for Ahmedhodzic) despite not having a penny to their names and then defaulting upon payments. Only to have a ridiculously small points deduction as a "punishment".. I do not think that will deter them from doing the same thing again.

It probably will blow their rivals away, only Huddersfield and maybe Wrexham will come anywhere near close to that, even as an overall budget. Even Rotherham have a comparatively large budget (compared to other League 1 teams)

https://www.peterboroughtoday.co.uk/sport/football/peterborough-united/has-peterborough-united-skipper-agreed-personal-terms-with-sheffield-united-4675736 Looks like he is off to Sheff Utd

He played their once or twice for England when he first got into the squad (I think around about the the time of the tournament in Russia). But to my memory, this was only against teams where England didn't have to do much defending. Playing him their against anyone apart from relative minnows would be suicide

https://www.eadt.co.uk/sport/24205704.ipswich-town-accounts-2022-2023-financial-year-revealed/#:~:text=Ipswich Town's accounts for the,m to £18.2m. Apparently Ipswich spent £19.8M on wages alone in their promotion season from league one, so a £20M total budget does not sound too unlikely to me. People hear the word "budget" and automatically assume "transfer budget", forgetting about wages, bonuses, running costs etc. Disclaimer - I do not read or subscribe to Nixon, if he said transfer budget, then I am sure it is rubbish

His family live in Norwich https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/john-ruddy-birmingham-city-contract-29321955 If he wants to play first team football then maybe Millwall (their keeper just passed away), QPR (if Begovic does not sign a new contract), Oxford, or Peterborough if he doesn't mind dropping down a division. Otherwise Norwich or Ipswich as a 2nd/3rd choice option

He played 3 right backs, one at LB, one at RB, and one in midfield

Barnes has a year deal with an option, I would really hope that with him being a Rovers fan, he has been told that if he proves his form and fitness over the next 2 years that he will have a deal waiting for him back at Rovers in 2026 (when he would be available on a free transfer - obviously if Barrow do not take up the option and he is a free agent next summer then we can only assume that his injuries have ruined a very promising career)

He had a very good PR team at that time didn't he?

https://www.walmsleywilkinson.com/news-and-insights/inspiring-leaders-interviews/inspiring-leaders-steve-waggott-ceo-blackburn-rovers/ The headline of this story is mental (I just googled Waggott to check his age/time to retirement based on the previous post)

Apparently he has replaced half of GB, and Adam Owen will soon replace the other half

Bellingham is an attacking midfielder, Wharton, if he plays, would be as one of the holding midfielders alongside Rice Personally, I would play Pickford TAA Stones Guehi Shaw Rice Wharton Saka Bellingham Foden Kane And Walker instead of TAA when they play the top tier teams for a bit more defensive stability Although suspect Southgate will favour Walker at RB and will move TAA to CM in place of Wharton

I can foresee "unforeseen complications"

And yet he incorrectly listed that Hedges does not have a year option on his contract in an article posted a week ago. https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/sport/24373599.blackburns-contract-decisions-11-players-enter-last-year/ Not the biggest error in the world, but shows that even going back 7 days, he does not have a 100% record. Article on Rovers site from when Hedges signed that states he has an option - https://www.rovers.co.uk/news/2022/january/30/ryan-is-a-rover-/

Note that they these roles are "Head of...." ,rather than "Director of....". In business language that means cheaper To my knowledge, there are only 2 people at any club able to "press submit". In our case, Waggott and the guy who replaced Silvester (Brett Baker)

According to Gestedes linkedin, He has owned a company in France for the past 3.5 years (H&R Associates if anyone wants to do some digging - just be careful not to mistake it with one of the numerous similarly named companies)

That is being rather pedantic. They have been announced. and will be available for their new clubs next season

The dingle signings were on loan last season, and made permanent (for large fees) this summer And the signings by Norwich, Stoke and Coventry also are not free transfers. they are multi million £ signings. As I stated earlier, it doesn't matter if the window is officially open. several Championship clubs have completed and announced signings well in advance of the window being open.

I will never understand the "transfer window is not open yet" argument https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/championship/transfers/wettbewerb/GB2/plus/?saison_id=2024&s_w=s&leihe=3&intern=0 As is demonstrated by that link, it doesn't matter if the window is officially open. Numerous Championship clubs have completed and announced signings well in advance of the window being open. The ideal is always to have the majority of your squad building done before pre season starts, in order to bed the new signings in and give them time to adapt to what the manager/head coach wants. But I am a realist, and understand that the ideal is really only a possibility for those clubs who can cherry pick who they want and pay the fees a and wages to get them.