In the Championship - Sales take the headlines

Last updated : 17 July 2007 By Tony Scholes
Jason Koumas - moved to WIgan
West Brom could be doing quite a bit of cashing in over the next few weeks with a number of players interesting Premiership clubs, this after two have already departed bringing in over £13 million. Diomansy Kamara went to Fulham whilst Jason Koumas headed back to the North West in a £5.3 million transfer to Wigan.

It wasn't just West Brom either. Cardiff cashed in on their former Newcastle striker Michael Chopra, selling him to Roy Keane's Sunderland for an astonishing £5 million. He's only been at Cardiff for a year, a year where he divided his time between scoring goals and telling people he used to play for Newcastle. I wonder if he'll be doing that when he's wearing the red and white for the Mackems, they'll love him (not) if he does.

The transfer came just a couple of days after Peter Ridsdale said they didn't need to sell. No, we believe you Mr Ridsdale we really do, and you'll be quids in, that money will buy a hell of a lot of goldfish.

"Get back here," Paul Simpson told David Nugent just over a week ago. He'd not turned up for training yet he hadn't signed for anyone. Nugent didn't go back, he signed for Portsmouth. He's not as good as Chopra, because the former Newcastle striker told us so, but he's brought more money in the transfer market - no less than £6 million. Described by many a Preston fan as a prima donna, many of them won't be too sorry to see him go. I'm not surprised at that sort of money, you can get over a third of a Thierry Henry for that amount.

Of those three clubs, Cardiff are the only ones to strengthen their squad this week with the capture of former England international Trevor Sinclair who was freed by Manchester City at the end of the season.

For Preston and West Brom there was more bad news. Preston had hoped to sign American Under-20 international Greg Dalby but their application for a work permit was turned down. Preston thought they were sure to get one, perhaps they should have contacted Steve Cotterill for some advice, or got themselves some decent legal advice.

Middlesbrough are keen on Simon Whaley but North End Chairman Derek Shaw has said he's not for sale. I reckon a space should be kept in next week's In the Championship to report his sale, it's not often Preston say no when money's waved at them.

Gary Taylor-Fletcher - one of two new players at Blackpool
At West Brom the plans have been disrupted further with Curtis Davis deciding he no longer wants to be captain. In truth it's more than that, he doesn't even want to be there, but they've turned down his transfer request and the captaincy sulk is his response.

A few transfers that have gone through now, and three clubs have brought in two new players in the past week. In case you've missed it, one of those clubs is Burnley with the signings of Robbie Blake and Stephen Jordan from League One Leeds and Manchester City respectively.

Blackpool are another club to raid LOL. They've signed left back Stephen Crainey, a player who might well have been a Burnley player three years ago, he was one of the names on Stan Ternent's shopping list. Blackpool's other signing is Gary Taylor-Fletcher, a well travelled striker who has been at Huddersfield for the last couple of years.

Colchester led the way last week with four signings and they've added two more in Danny Granville from Palace and Matthew Connolly who has joined on loan from Arsenal. The exodus of players continues thought, and defender Wayne Brown has now followed Richard Garcia to Hull. Brown has cost the Humberside club £450,000.

Hull are also set to sign striker Christian Nade from Sheffield United. A fee has been agreed and the deal should be completed in the next day or two.

Two players have returned to clubs where they spent time on loan last season. Former Newcastle defender Steve Watson has returned to Sheffield Wednesday from West Brom, whilst Krisztian Timar is back at Plymouth after completing a permanent move from Ferencvaros.

Ipswich manager Jim Magilton has brought one former player back to Portman Road and is set to make it two. Striker Pablo Counago is back from Malaga whilst Tommy Miller will have a medical today before completing his return after being released by RK Sunderland. Goalkeeper Neil Alexander, released by Cardiff, will also sign for Ipswich.

Leicester only made one signing this week, paying Birmingham a million for midfielder Stephen Clemence. It takes the squad up to a ridiculous number of players, as is the Mandaric way, and time will tell whether they know what they are doing. Will there be any more signings at the Crisp Bowl? It appears so and speculation is suggesting they are prepared to pay Robbie Fowler close to £30,000 per week.

Coventry are another club with far too many players and this week they signed Julian Gray from Birmingham. The number in the squad is now 36, is that what Operation Premiership is all about?

Dominic Matteo - let me go and you are making a big mistake
Elsewhere David Strihavka has completed his move from Banik Ostrava to Norwich, Southampton have signed Liverpool's Adam Hammill on loan, and both Barnsley and Bristol City have taken players from Wolves. Barnsley have signed Rohan Ricketts, who was released at the end of last season, whilst Bristol City have bought Michael McIndoe who only completed a permanent move to Molineux in January.

Tony Pulis is trying to strengthen his defence but if he's not careful he could end up weakening it. He's been very confident of getting Andy Griffin back on a permanent basis after the full back had two loan spells at the Windy City last season. Griffin now looks set to stay in the Premiership instead and move to Derby.

Worse still for Pulis, they've been threatened by Dominic Matteo. The defender joined them in January on a short term contract and has told them straight that they'll be making a big mistake if they let him go. There's nothing like having confidence in your own ability.

And to end, Sheffield Wednesday look as though they could be taken over by an Everton fan. Former Goodison Park director Paul Gregg wants to take over, although it is going to be difficult for him with too many shareholders making it difficult for him to obtain the necessary number. It sounds more like the current chairman is hanging on as best he can.

It could be a busy week next week as preparations are stepped up, and a week in the Championship can be a long time. Only last Friday afternoon there were Burnley fans complaining that we'd only signed two players since the end of last season. Less than three days later that was doubled. Maybe it will be Leicester and Coventry adding to their squads again next week, trying to outdo each other. Who will get to fifty players first?