Dougie Freedman looks to bring in fresh faces for new season

It could be a case of three in, three out for Wanderers by the time they get their Championship campaign up and running at Watford in 15 days’ time.

Dougie Freedman is eyeing a late influx of signings before the big kick-off at Vicarage Road but admits that new arrivals could mean other players are allowed to move on.

The Scot is in a hurry to land two strikers and one wide man, who could well be Huddersfield Town’s Adam Hammill.

“I believe we need three players to come into the squad before the start of the season,” he said. “And that will mean three will move out, or won’t play.

“We’ll deal with that when it happens. I want them by the start of the season but I appreciate it’s not as simple as just saying that.

“If you are spending a lot of money then you can call the shots. If you are not, you can be dictated to time-wise.

Keith Andrews has started the exodus with his move to Watford which was confirmed yesterday, while speculation persists over the future of strikers Craig Davies and Tom Eaves.

That has freed funds for Freedman to sign the players he needs but it is understood that the Whites boss is waiting for deals to go through at Premier League level before he can press ahead fully with his plans.

“I don’t want the attitude at this football club where we’ve got a bit of money and now all of a sudden we’ve got to spend it,” he said.

“I want to use the funds we have to get the right player when he comes up.

“In an ideal world that would be tomorrow morning but unless you’ve got a large sum of money or you get a lucky break, it tends to be in other people’s hands because we’re not at that level right now.

“But I am in the market and I am confident we can get them done.”

Wanderers go to Tranmere tonight with their two strikers, Davies and Jermaine Beckford, having scored one goal apiece in their five pre-season outings to date.

Youngsters Conor Wilkinson and Zach Clough have also made strong cases for inclusion at Prenton Park following goal-scoring cameos from the bench against Rochdale and Macclesfield Town respectively.

Source

I'm getting fed up with this talk about signing a striker. All talk no action so far.

My sentiments entirely Lusty.

I guess the papers are desperate for news so they're recycling.

I've said my piece but I'll repeat it once more. I fear our business in this window is done at least as far as bringing players in is concerned. Players out, well, we could yet see a couple more and I won't be surprised if Cravies at least is one of them.

You said the exact same in January, Dougie's very shrewd Im sure he's working on one or two - but as always when you have no money we'll be waiting for other clubs to make the call before we can get our targets in.

I'd be absolutely amazed if we let another striker go and brought nobody in LPP, do you seriously see that happening?

bwfc1874 wrote:You said the exact same in January, Dougie's very shrewd Im sure he's working on one or two - but as always when you have no money we'll be waiting for other clubs to make the call before we can get our targets in.

I'd be absolutely amazed if we let another striker go and brought nobody in LPP, do you seriously see that happening?

Unfortunately yes I do mate. You stated the reason yourself: money. If a league one club can come up with a few hundred K then I think the board will jump at getting rid of Cravies. It's clear from what happened in January that he's not in DF's plans and that DF is definitely the man the board want at the helm. Much has been made of young players coming through in the BN and elsewhere during the pre-season and I suspect DF may (either from conviction or because the board says he must) have to go with them in a bid to keep the wage bill going down year on year.