The majority of the Premier League appears to overlook the Championship as a viable recruitment pool, often favouring talents from foreign top flights.
But breaking the mould, West Ham added two Championship starlets to their roster last summer – former Charlton youngster Diego Poyet and left-back Aaron Cresswell, who’s since featured in every minute of the Hammer’s league campaign.
Thus, and knowing that Sam Allardyce likes to beat the curve on all things transfer market, here’s FIVE Championship stars the Irons boss should be keeping an eye on, with the summer 2015 transfer window in mind.
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ALEX PRITCHARD
Technically not a Championship player but certainly one worth keeping an eye on, Tottenham Hotspur loanee Alex Pritchard has featured in every league fixture for a Brentford side that’s hugely surpassed expectations by making the playoff standings – winning seven of their last 13 – since promotion from League One last season.
And the stats say it all. Not only is the central midfielder the Bees’ joint-second top scorer with three goals – including this strike against Reading:
…he’s also created more chances (documented as key passes) than any player in the squad:
The 21 year-old comes with guile, technical quality and flair, particularly famed for his dead ball ability – such as this stunner against MK Dons last season:
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But Pritchard knows how to put his foot in too, averaging 1.9 tackles per match this season.
And that productive form for Brentford follows an impressive loan spell with Swindon Town in League One last season, where he grabbed eight goals (six in the league) and eleven assists in 44 appearances across all competitions. Here’s a look at the England U21 in action:
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Measuring in at just 5 foot 8, Pritchard lacks the physicality of your average top flight midfielder. But his progress over the last 18 months is impossible to ignore, and should he find first team opportunities limited at White Hart Lane next season, West Ham would be wise to take the playmaking youngster off Tottenham’s hands.
BEN MARSHALL
Blackburn are determined to make it back to the top flight this season and a significant factor in their promotion push will be the form of goal-scoring winger Ben Marshall.
Indeed, the 23 year-old has bagged six goals and three assists in 16 Championship outings this season, with manager Gary Bowyer describing his finishing as ‘Premier League quality’. Take this stunning free kick against Reading for example:
Or this likeminded effort against Chelsea from his Leicester City days:
Or this cracking volley that was unfortunately disallowed:
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The one-time Stoke City product certainly knows where the goal is – and not only from dead ball situations – but he’s also a grafter with a bullish 6 foot frame, averaging 1.6 tackles and 1.1 interceptions this season and even putting in three appearances at right-back.
Blackburn will likely be involved in the play-offs come May-time; they possess one of the strongest squads in the division and are currently just one point away from the top six.
But should they fail to achieve promotion, top flight clubs will feel compelled to run the rule over the former England U21, purely due to his talismanic ability to affect the scoreline from midfield.
MICHAIL ANTONIO
Michail Antonio has proved an inspired addition since joining the Nottingham Forest ranks from Sheffield Wednesday last summer.
The 24 year-old has claimed nine goals and six assists in 17 appearances this season, making him in some way responsible for 58% of Forest’s league goals. That includes this impressive solo effort against Watford:
The former non-leaguer, with Tooting and Mitcham United, boasts an interesting versatility too, being capable of adopting virtually any role in midfield or attack, as shown below:
He comes with that grittiness and extra edge that often accompanies players who’ve forced their way up the English pyramid, such as Charlie Austin and Rickie Lambert. Here’s a look at Antonio in action for Sheffield Wednesday:
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Antonio’s form appears to improve with his surroundings, suggesting he could quickly take to the top flight.
Forest will be reluctant to sell however even if they don’t achieve promotion this season, having signed the London-born winger for £1.5million last summer.
CHRIS SOLLY
There are certainly better-rounded right-backs in the Championship but Charlton Athletic’s Chris Solly does the simple things well.
In addition to amassing two assists for the in-form Addicks this season – currently just a point from the play-off places – he’s averaged the most tackles of any player in the Championship:
The 23 year-old comes with a decent amount of experience too, having made 136 league outings for Charlton since his debut in 2009. He’s also won the Player of the Year award twice, in 2012 and 2013, which tells you how highly-rated he is around the Valley.
The former England U17 measures in at just 5 foot 8 and sometimes struggles going forward. But defensively, he’s one of the best in the division, with a fantastic reading of the game and a never-say-die attitude.
Solly’s just come back from a near-season-long absence too, so by the end of the campaign those limitations in attack may diminish as the full-back’s confidence and fitness improves. And a small treat for your footballing senses – the best league goal Solly’s ever scored (out of two, ever):
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West Ham were strongly linked to the Charlton academy product in summer 2012, and it could be worth reviving their interest next summer if Arsenal loanee Carl Jenkinson doesn’t become a permanent signing at Upton Park.
CALLUM WILSON
After netting 21 goals in his final 37 league appearances at Coventry City, earning him a spot in the League One Team of the Year, Championship free-spenders Bournemouth splashed out £2million on young striker Callum Wilson this summer.
He’s already paying them back however, netting nine times in 17 appearances to become the Championship’s fifth-top scorer:
That includes this close-range finish to an impressive 31-pass move from Eddie Howe’s side:
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The 22 year-old is strong and quick and comes with that selfish streak which appears to accompany prolific goal-scorers.
Wilson’s impressive tally this term has been a major factor in Bournemouth’s shock rise to second in the Championship table, seeing him win the division’s Player of the Month award for October. He also earned the League One Player of the Month award last March for netting an incredible seven times:
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The Cherries are unlikely to remain in second-spot come May-time however, suggesting Wilson could be lured away.
But, having only gained Championship exposure this season, West Ham might want to wait for further, long-term evidence of the 5 foot 11 striker’s goalscoring credentials.
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