Free Pizza

In: None.

Out: G Barry (Manchester City, £12 million), M Laursen (retired), S Taylor (released).

BIRMINGHAM CITY

Ready to spend or spent force?

Already investing heavily, breaking their club record to bring in Christian Benítez, an Ecuador striker whose agent rates as better than Lionel Messi and says is worth “at least £30 million”. Scott Dann, Coventry City’s England Under-21 centre back, has also signed. The club would not blink at spending £20 million.

Wish list or wishful thinking?

Roger Johnson, of Cardiff City, was considered too expensive at £5 million but Alex McLeish could still go for Zat Knight, also a defender, from across the way at Villa Park. McLeish has also watched Ross McCormack, the Cardiff and Scotland forward who scored 24 goals last season, and Joe Hart, the Manchester City goalkeeper, because Maik Taylor is out of contract this month.

In: C Benítez (£6.5 million, Santos Laguna, Mexico), S Dann (Coventry City, £3.5 million).

Out: A Krysiak, R Jaidi, M Nafti (all released).

BLACKBURN ROVERS

Ready to spend or spent force?

Sam Allardyce has strictly limited funds but will have a chunk of the £15 million or so that should be generated by the likely sales of Roque Santa Cruz and Matt Derbyshire, the Paraguayan’s fellow forward who wants to move permanently to Olympiacos after a loan spell. The manager’s main targets are a box-to-box midfield player and a striker or two.