WAVE buy-bye to the Championship?
Premier League clubs often look to the foreign market for new signings.
But there is a wealth of talent in our lower divisions that are ready to step up into the big league.
Here, Football League reporter TOM BARCLAY picks out a team of players from the Championship which Prem sides should be looking at this summer.
GK: David Marshall (Cardiff) Cost: £7.5m
SCOT is a class act and impressed during the Bluebirds’ one-year stay in the Premier League a few years ago.
Any lower-end Prem side looking for a safe pair of hands — perhaps Bournemouth or Middlesbrough — would do well to snap him up.
Highly recommended: Keiren Westwood (Sheffield Wednesday)
RB: Cyrus Christie (Derby) Cost: £4.5m
DYNAMIC full-back possesses pace and power in abundance, as well as decent cross which he proved in the lead-up to Johnny Russell’s opener last night.
The Republic of Ireland star would be an addition to most mid-to-lower Prem squads. Sunderland would be a good fit with first-choice right-back DeAndre Yedlin returning to Spurs after his loan spell.
Highly recommended: Dominic Iorfa (Wolves)
CB: Shane Duffy (Blackburn) Cost: £3.5m
ANOTHER Irishman and another solid performer in a Rovers side which may have underwhelmed going forward — but not at the back.
The ex-Everton kid, who has one year left on his contract, is ready for the step-up and with Bournemouth needing reinforcements in the heart of the defence, a move to the South Coast would make sense.
Highly recommended: Bruno Manga (Cardiff)
CB: Lewis Dunk (Brighton) Cost: £7m
DUNK penned a five-year deal with the Seagulls at the start of the season and has been a key player in their amazing-but-heartbreaking campaign.
He’s still learning and has the occasional hot-headed moment but would be a committed addition to many sides. Whisper it quietly, but perhaps Brighton’s arch-rivals Crystal Palace!
Highly recommended: Richard Keogh (Derby)
LB: Jake Bidwell (Brentford) Cost: £4m
SCOUSER has quietly gone about his business at Griffin Park and at 23, has now racked up over 200 appearances for the Bees.
Bidwell has formed a formidable partnership with Alan Judge — who would definitely be in this list were it not for the cruel double leg-break which has cost him his Euro 2016 place with Ireland. Could suit West Brom.
Highly recommended: Charlie Taylor (Leeds)
DM: Dale Stephens (Brighton) Cost: £5m
WILL be suspended for the first game of next season after his harsh red card at Boro on the final day which saw him miss Brighton’s play-off semi-final legs.
Stephens would add steel to any side with a soft underbelly so Watford would do well to take a look.
Highly recommended: George Thorne (Derby)
CM: Lewis Cook (Leeds) Cost: £8m
TEEN sensation Cook is the best young player outside the Premier League.
Manchester United looked at him last January but I feel he would suit better the squad of bright young things Mauricio Pochettino has assembled at Spurs.
Highly recommended: Jeff Hendrick (Derby)
CM: Will Hughes (Derby) Cost: £9m
IF Cook is the best young player, then Hughes is not far behind.
The bleach-blond whizkid has made a dazzling return since coming back from long-term injury this season and would be a canny addition for nearly any Prem squad, Southampton or West Ham particularly.
Highly recommended: Beram Kayal (Brighton)
RW: Anthony Knockaert (Brighton) Cost: £8m
THE right-wing jester, formerly of Leicester, is probably the most dangerous player in the division.
He is a defender’s nightmare and deserves another crack at the top flight. I could see him fitting in at a Bournemouth, Swansea or even a West Ham.
Highly recommended: Johnny Russell (Derby)
LW: Fernando Forestieri (Sheffield Wednesday) Cost: £7m
HULL star Robert Snodgrass might have labelled him a 'diver' ahead of the play-off final — but there is no doubting Forestieri has been Wednesday's key man this year.
Watford cut him loose last year for a snip £1.5m and you wonder how much they are ruing that decision after the Argentina-born Italian hit 15 league goals in the Championship.
Highly recommended: Matty Phillips (QPR)
FD: Moussa Dembele (Fulham) Cost: £5m in compensation (although a fraction of this if he moves abroad)
OUT of contract and looking for a new club, Dembele has the raw talent to make it to the top.
Has been linked to massive clubs in Spurs and Chelsea this season — and you could see him being a decent fit as one of the back-ups to Harry Kane at White Hart Lane.
Team-mate Ross McCormack is technically the better player, but clubs may be put off by a valuation north of £10m for a striker nearly 30.
Highly recommended: Jonathan Kodjia (Bristol City)
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