Don’t think we’ll sign Dembele from Birmingham, he’ll be on decent money from his initial move to Bournemouth, then again getting signed for a decent fee at Birmingham, doubtful we would want to pay him at the level he’s earning.

Eustace likes a compact team, he’ll pick 2 holding midfielders and at times 3 at the back . Going forward he’s previously played a target man and wingers with pace (Dembele, Mitoma, Khadra). It will be undeniably different to JDT, less possession, more direct. But worse on the eye? I love watching good counter attacking teams who try and get balls into the box.

I don’t think anyone could argue at this point that he will be much better than Gallagher. There’s a reason Gally is wanted by clubs up and down the championship. I do think it’s a decision the club had to make though, not sure he offer’s enough to be a top earner on a new contract and we were clearly risking losing him for 0 next summer if we didn’t move him on and bring someone else in. It could be a shrewd decision but we could easily be missing Gallagher after a few months. He’s had years of opportunities to prove himself and has been unable to do so.

There’s no doubt that Gueye and Ohashi are gambles. Both have been indifferent at times in their careers but to sign two players in their prime after they have both just had good seasons is promising. These players are certainly a step up from the level of Telalovic and more closer to playing level and experience of Trondstadt. Hopefully at least one of them can come in and hit the ground running. In terms of a Szmodics replacement, Our recruitment team *should* have players identified at all prices as they will for all positions in case we were to lose a player. I expect again it will either be a player from abroad or a younger player making a step up that will come in for a relatively low fee and scope to improve. I presume the Gueye transfer is in response to Gally leaving and wages being freed up from that.

Gallagher, a top earner out, Gueye in on probably half of his salary. If indeed we are signing these 3 today, another centre back, a goalkeeper and a winger away from a decent squad. Would also need a replacement for Szmodics when he leaves.

The strange world of disorganised Venky’s. Nothing for weeks, clearly tap was turned off, then suddenly the last week of July allowing transfers. It is utterly bizarre, I don’t even think it’s Szmodics related, something else is afoot here

They will have been looking to give Ruddy, Batth, Cooper 12 month deals, which would mean they would either want more money or feel they could get 2 years elsewhere

Rovers will not pay 2.5 million and give a 3 year contract to a 29 year old on 15-20k per week. It simply will not happen. They wouldn’t even give him a contract like that if he were free. Even if they have a sudden impulse to spend they won’t invest that in him because in all likelihood he will be worth 0 in 3 years and he’d still be one of the top wage earners. It will be low fees from abroad or lower end championship/league 1 players at an age where they can in theory improve and increase their transfer value. I’m even amazed they’ve agree to giving Fadz 12 months.

Makhtar Gueye played in the pro league last season not the 2nd Division. Scored 11 goals. Standard Liege have had a loan to buy bid rejected, the club have said he can only leave on a permanent basis. He’s 6 foot 5 and has had a steady record throughout his career, mainly in Belgium. I wonder if they have been told they can now spend some of the Szmodics money.

Szmodics won’t play tomorrow and there will be news following the game of an impending move would be my best guess.

Probably a “hurry up and pay the money “ plea from his Agent 😄😄 trying to generate a move

I think this could be the next cheap punt, probably depends on when Szmodics goes though.

Something Eustace noticed straight away . Think we were linked with Ruddy in April. Don’t think that’s any great loss but he’s clearly not happy with Pears

I do think our starting 11, maybe with two others, 13 players maximum, is better than 19th place. However, we won’t last 5 games with 13 first team players. A goalkeeper, 2 centre backs and two forwards are a minimum to have a competitive squad. I’ve watched Humphrys and although he’s predominantly been a league 1 player, he would offer us something different. Indifferent goal scoring record but is very physical, quite quick and can play in multiple positions, he’s not like anything else we have had at the club recently. Ohashi looks like a great deal, fair play to Park. Even if he turns out not to be up to this level, we could command a fee for him in January or next summer with his goal scoring record over the last couple of years. Priority now has to be a first team goalkeeper and cover at centre half. Eustace wants experience but that comes with cost. Will he get?

Anyone know why he didn’t re-sign at Wigan this year?

Surely the penny has dropped that that will not be happening

We are in fairytale land if we are expecting Rovers to suddenly sign players who are proven at League 1, Championship level or equivalent. They require decent fees or good wages. Not what we are going to do. Humphrys is physical, had a decent season and will be cheap

38 games 9 goals 3 assists last year, from the left hand side I think. Not sure why he is leaving there, probably money

You obviously cannot give a name away yet but are we talking about a player for u21’s or first team?

Always tough to gauge how people will cope. I’m sure technically he will be good. He looks mobile and two footed. Will he be able to cope playing 3 times a week and feeding off scraps, it’s a lottery really.

Looks like a John Park special to me…. As for the million pounds, it will be spread over several years and Waggott will know he can offload him to Holland/Germany/Spain in 12 months for a similar fee if he doesn’t fire in the championship.

Yes I thought this and denying Szmodics rumours are close during season ticket sale season. Despite national press saying it’s on and the fact they left him out on Saturday.

So we’ve moved on from Cooper to Batth as we aren’t prepared to hand a 2 year deal out it seems like. Mixed views. Not sure Cooper is much better than Batth and not sure Cooper is worth 2 years. But this will be a financial cost reducing decision rather than a football one I’m sure. Batth only played 16 times last year but they were fairly well stocked at Cente Half. Hope he is still mobile enough to do a good job for us.

BBC Sport now picking it up. Sounds like it will happen as both clubs and the player will want it to happen.

Goalkeeper and possibly McNair depending on his fitness