00:00But this time, would it be surprising if Albion now go down the loan route
00:07and the free agent route because they've spent, you know, £7.5 million on Ireland?
00:13Do you think now the spending will kind of end?
00:19You know, we'll talk about the links and the links to players this week.
00:22Certainly this week anyway kind of suggests that.
00:24But do you think the spending is kind of over?
00:26Or, you know, it's a case of looking at good frees and young loans?
00:31Yes and no.
00:32And that's not sitting on the fence because I don't think there's a definitive answer to that.
00:35I don't necessarily think the pot's empty.
00:37It's not a case of the pot.
00:38I think it's more a case of profit and sustainability, isn't it?
00:41We've spoke about potential exits and that is on the cards this summer.
00:46I think what one to follow clearly.
00:48And I think the identity of who maybe leaves and what they leave for, you know,
00:54perhaps leans more towards what there's there to be.
00:58Any player that leaves will be replaced is my reading of it and understanding of it.
01:03So, again, if a quote-unquote big player left for a sizable fee,
01:09there'll be a lot there to work with in terms of replacement,
01:12in terms of maybe replacing them with two, three.
01:15You factor in loan fees as well, potentially.
01:16But if players leave who are more on the fringes for lesser fees,
01:21yes, it all helps the pot, but obviously it would free up lesser financial room to work in type things.
01:28So, I think the outlets for the three so far, as you mentioned,
01:32in the region of seven, seven and a half million,
01:34I think is, given Albion's position with financial fair play and everything,
01:39I think is a show and sign of ambition, really.
01:42I think, I mean, you always expect sort of the fees to typically generally come early,
01:47but not just early, you know, obviously it can happen later in the window.
01:51But, yeah, I think they've improved areas that needed improving with fees,
01:57not insignificant fees, let's be honest.
02:00I mean, Hegerberg's fee, really, the best part of five million,
02:03is the most Armin I've spent since Darrell Dike, was it?
02:06Start of 2022.
02:07So, I mean, that's a show, isn't it?
02:10And Mikey Johnson was this time last year.
02:13And to be honest, look at Atam Abani at the start of the year.
02:18A sign that Albion and Bilkel and Shillam Patel,
02:21within what they can do regulation-wise, PSR,
02:28will back the head coach, will look to improve things and spend.
02:33However, it's not an endless pit, you know.
02:37There's not, because of rules and PSR and how close Albion are.
02:40Obviously, we know about the 39 million limit within a three-year cycle that can't be exceeded.
02:47Albion won't trouble that because the threat and the punishment is, you know,
02:52potential points deduction, all of that stuff,
02:54which is obviously a very worst-case scenario, really,
02:58and could be potentially disastrous if you're fighting for promotion.
03:01So, the loan market will be used, and you've said it before, haven't we,
03:08needs to be used better.
03:11It's always, I think, every summer and whenever you make loans,
03:16I mean, loans, look, Mason Holgate last year is not a young loan, was he?
03:20What is he?
03:2026, 27, been here before, kind of experience.
03:23You're kind of hopeful you're getting a real seasoned pro,
03:26and he's going to be a solid stand-up format.
03:28He didn't have a great season, did he?
03:31I think that's fair to say.
03:32He didn't tear the place up.
03:35He, you know, did okay in spells, but you're kind of hopeful of more,
03:39I think, for that calibre of loan signing.
03:42Typically, they're younger, and I think with any young loan, really.
03:46I mean, Rakic was another one last summer, wasn't he, who wasn't younger?
03:49More probably mid-20s, played a lot of football.
03:51More Valencia, you know, that sort of thing.
03:55Yet, Albin didn't get the return on a player like that, did they?
03:57They just didn't.
03:58He was obviously poor and sent back.
04:01You can almost forgive the young loans that don't come off.
04:04Lewis Dobbin, young player last year.
04:08Yes, was sold for free, comes with a bit of pedigree,
04:10featured for Everton, but didn't work either, did he?
04:13You can almost forgive the younger ones not quite happening.
04:16You know, it might be their first loan.
04:17And it was pretty much Dobbin's only second experience of regular football.
04:22The young loans might come in, having never played consistent football in their life,
04:25then they're chucked in in the championship.
04:27It's tough.
04:28However, you only have to look back a few years ago with Albin, don't you?
04:31How transformative they can be for a season and how much they can lead your season.
04:36And look, that's where the recruitment team earned their corn, isn't it?
04:39That's where Ian Pearce could thrive for this season ahead,
04:43and Andrew Nesta as well, by the way.
04:45Or the loans come in as not good enough again.
04:50And it can make the difference, can't it?
04:51Let's be honest, because, yes, they've been able to spend on three players so far,
04:56a couple of them in around the million, million and a half mark.
04:58And yes, they're not insignificant fees for Albin,
05:01but really there's so much value to be getting out of the loans.
05:05But let's also be honest, how much of the top half of the championship,
05:09or all of the championship, are looking for those best loans, Johnny?
05:12You know, it doesn't take rocket science, does it, to look at the top half of the Premier League,
05:17honing on the kind of promising young talents around the late teens, 20, 21,
05:22and how many championship clubs are going to be pushing for those.
05:26It's tough, isn't it?
05:29Do I see five loans?
05:30No, I don't think the squad needs that.
05:32But Mason has his Spurs links, doesn't he?
05:35There's been enough rumours of those around, and Spurs have young talent, don't they?
05:38I saw yesterday, I think Spurs defender Ash Phillips went back to Stoke for a second consecutive loan.
05:44He's a good young centre-half, played in the championship a bit.
05:48Obviously, it's maybe a sign that Spurs are starting to think about letting young players out.
05:52Maybe watch this space.
05:53Obviously, we'll get onto it, but links with a Liverpool midfielder.
05:58Yeah, I'd like to see, I really would.
06:01And not because I want a team full of loans, like I don't, you'd rather have your own.
06:04But I'd like to see a loan really come and make his mark for the season, to be honest,
06:08and fight it to be considered a first-team regular.
06:11And, yeah, Mikey Johnson did it a bit in his January loan, didn't he?
06:15Albeit only the second half of the season.
06:17I think it's going to be really important for this season,
06:18because I think the top half of the champ looks to me,
06:22I mean, you did a piece this week, didn't you, Johnny,
06:24about the odds for promotion and stuff like that.
06:26I've seen what the bookies are thinking.
06:28I think they'll read yesterday that Albin and ninth favourites to go up
06:34or to finish ninth or ninth favourites to win the title, maybe.
06:38And ninth is where they finished last season.
06:41It was a massive disappointment.
06:43But that just shows, doesn't it?
06:45You know, the bookies think eight teams above them.
06:48Blues were one of them, by the way.
06:49Wrexham were just below.
06:50So the might of teams coming up who were battling as well.
06:53Wrexham signed Lewis O'Brien, didn't they?
06:55Only today, yesterday.
06:56So, yeah, the depth of teams looking to snap up these top ones
07:04is ever increasing and Albin need to earn their corn in that department.
07:07I think, yeah, I envisage a couple of free loans, Johnny, I think.
07:13And they need to deliver because I think the squad, as it is, needs it, really.
07:21It's a few lights and the loans are going to help stack that up
07:24to what it needs, I would say.
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