Just to take him at face value (I know, I know), the positions that we want to sign are...
Centre back - presumably with Hyam (a high earner due a contract renewal) leaving
Box to box midfielder - presumably with either Travis or Tronstad (high earners due a contract renewal) leaving
Right back - presumably with Brittain (due a contract renewal and wage increase) leaving
Right winger - presumably with Dolan (due a contract renewal and wage increase) leaving
Striker - presumably whilst trying to shift Cantwell (a high earner) if at all possible
It does seem to me to be a huge coincidence that all of the positions that they want to buy players in, just so happen to also be the positions where our current top earners (or those due a pay increase) operate.
I am sure that the narrative will be that they didn't fit how Ismael wanted to play. In some cases, this may even be true. I cannot see Cantwell working in the high pressing, high intensity team that we are told we will become. But why do I get the feeling that all of these signings will be on significantly less money than those who they replace?