De Lange has got to be the priority this week. Not sure about this Germain. Looks like a centre forward to me. I wonder if it means Vale is off and with Leonard’s fitness issues he wants 3 options. He could possibly play off the right as well with that strong left foot, but don’t think he fits the bill of a direct winger with pace that Eustace is crying out for every time he is asked about recruitment.

A main strength of Baker is dead balls, which there will be a lot more emphasis on under JE, especially with a centre forward who can attack the ball. We don’t really have anyone else who can fill that role (think Pickering and Britain have been doing it pre-season). That’s the only reason I can see that we would be looking at him. Still don’t think it fits with our recruitment pattern over recent years and can’t see a decent contract for him being handed out.

Germain doesn’t fit the bill unless he’s coming in for next to nothing. Can’t see that happening, we won’t be giving him 3 years aged 29. Same with Baker unfortunately. I wonder if all this talk is him trying to push a move out of Stoke? He’s moved around a lot in his career. Can’t see either of those happening.

He’ll be off will Szmodics. The club want the money and Szmodics wants the move. If we are haggling and waiting for the fee we want we have to respect that to a degree, as we would be the first to complain if it came out that he’d gone on the cheap. Personally any fee of £10 million plus for a player of his age and only one stand out season when we signed him for less than 2 million 2 years ago represents good business by the club. I can see low fee buys for a GK, left back and a wide player (probably all coming in from abroad) with a couple of loans to bulk the squad up at the end of August will see our business done.

If they’ve gone to the trouble of speaking to the player, Rovers will know the fee is affordable. Whether they want to pay it or not will be another question.

Unfortunately for Pears, he’s been good in pockets, but the error against Wednesday was the nail in his coffin as a possible number one at Rovers. Sounds like they could be trying to move him out if they want Ruddy as well He may want a move if he knows we are bringing in a new number 1

There was sudden movement in the transfer window last week. There’s been a financial u turn somewhere that’s allowed us to sign players. I wonder whether venky’s have had good news about their upcoming court case? One article reads that deLange was one of the standout keepers in the Eredivisie last season and is linked with a move to Ajax as their number 2, he must be commanding a decent fee with 2 years left on his contract.

If there’s any truth that we have agreed personal terms, we must be at or close to the fee they want for him to be allowed to speak to us surely. If Gueye is anything to go by it’s probably quite far down the line. Think Nicko got the heads up a day or two before with Gueye.

Someone is clearly back giving info to Nicko. I don’t think players who are plying their trade in the top leagues of Holland or Belgium are going to come into the championship and let themselves down. Hopefully he’s a good one, he’s just finishing playing in Go Aheads European Qualifiers and rumours on twitter are that Ajax wanted him as their number 2

£2 million sounds a lot of money but surely better buying someone who can be sold on rather than handing it to a 37 year old in wages?

Played every game in the Eredivisie the last 2 years has De Lange. Decent pedigree and good age. Plays at a far higher level than Wahlstedt had before he came

Have we considered if Siggy’s phantom injury at the weekend could mean he’s set for a move away? Appears to have been training this week…

Still think there will be Garrett + 1 other midfielder on the way out, hence the need to sign another, whether that’s Buckley or Travis I’m not sure.

Probably a second striker or “number 10” traditionally, although he’s capable of playing wide. His strength was his mobility and work rate. He was sharp, not sure he will be as quick as he was.

Pears Brittain Carter Hyam Pickering Travis Trondstadt JRC Weimann Dolan Gueye Is my prediction for next Friday subs New keeper Batth McFadzean Hedges Buckley Ohashi Vale

Is there going to be anyone else in the league who’s scored as many championship goals as Weimann? He’s had 67.

Weimann is a good signing. Very versatile, 338 championship games, captain, rarely misses a game and that 21/22 season where he scored 22 and assisted 10. He will end up playing more games than he misses this season.

I think they’ve got a centre mid lined up. They were trying sell travis now Garrett is going, trying to make room.

Do the powers that be think the window shuts at the end of July rather than the end of August ? 😂😂

McFadzean will come in when we switch to a back 3 away from home . He won’t feature in a back 4, he will probably also feature towards the end of games that we are a goal up and hanging on. He certainly won’t let us down, albeit probably not mobile enough to feature in a back 4 anymore.

Now that is a good question that I do not know the answer to. Quite an important one when we think about recruitment for the rest of the window.

You’ve got me there!!

No. I mean they now need a left back as well as 2 centre backs. Might mean they aren’t as fussed about one of their centre halves being left sided.

JE has clearly made the decision that championship football isn’t for him yet, despite impressing at Motherwell. Don’t think we can attribute this to money. He’ll earn very little and the fee will be small with a year left on his deal. Maybe explains why they are signing Batth and Fadz if they now need a left back.

My prediction is McFadzean is off and Batth is after a u turn on McFadzean.