TOP TALENT: CHAMPIONSHIP TRANSFERS TO KEEP AN EYE ON

Featured Credit Image: Bournemouth Echo

It may seem like the transfer window closed ages ago, but with eight games into the new Championship season, there isn't any better time to review the league's most exciting new additions.

Ivan Toney (Peterborough to Brentford - £5m)

It was more likely than not that Said Benrahma and Ollie Watkins were going to leave West London this summer, and many probably wondered…… who would come in to supply the goals that BMW (Benrahma, Mbeumo, Watkins) notched up last season?

Look no further than Ivan Toney. The 24-year-old has been brought in by Thomas Frank from Peterborough and has set the league a light early on, scoring seven goals in his first seven games.

He scored an impressive 24 goals for Posh last season as they narrowly missed out on the League 1 play-offs.

Alongside players like Bryan Mbeumo, Sergi Canos and Marcus Forss up top for the Bees, you can’t help but feel that Toney and this stacked Brentford attack will be scoring for fun this campaign.

Harry Wilson (Liverpool to Cardiff – Loan)

Arguably one of the best transfers this summer in the Championship is Harry Wilson’s move to Cardiff City.

Wilson joins the South Wales outfit on a season long loan and will be playing his football in a familiar Cardiff City Stadium, where he plays with the Wales national team.

The 23-year-old has proven quality at this level, scoring 15 goals at Derby in the 18/19 season and also had an impressive spell at Hull City the year previous.

The Liverpool loanee has also shown quality at a Premier League level being one of the better players in a Bournemouth side who were relegated in the end last term.

This move could prove to be massive for the Bluebirds bringing another dynamic to their attack with a wand of a left foot and undeniable creativity that City have been lacking.

Ovie Ejaria (Liverpool to Reading - £3.5m)

Cheating the system slightly here, but such a good player at this level that can’t be left out on a technicality. It’s Ovie Ejaria.

Ejaria has played for Reading in the Championship since January 2019 but has made his move permanent for £3.5m from Liverpool after a season and a half in Berkshire.

The 22-year-old has become a stalwart in the Royals midfield with his silky feet and is a fan favourite at the Madejski Stadium.

He has already scored and assisted one this campaign as Reading have started of to a flyer levelling the record for the most points after seven games in a Championship season.

Veljko Paunovic’s side have had a few underwhelming seasons since their play-off final defeat to Huddersfield in 2017, but can Ejaria help Reading return to the top flight for the first time since 2013 this term.

Ryan Manning (QPR to Swansea - £250,000)

A bit of an under the radar signing is Ryan Manning’s switch to Swansea City from Queens Park Rangers.

The Irishman performed very well in West London last season and was arguably one of the best full backs in the league scoring four and assisting seven from the left back position.

He joins the Swans for an exceedingly small fee of just £250,000 after failing to agree a new contract with Mark Warburton’s Hoops.

Manning 24, leaves Loftus Road after almost two years at the club and will be chomping at the bit to get a chance to push for top flight football in South Wales.

Steve Cooper likes to play a three/five at the back formation with Swansea and Manning will likely be challenging Jake Bidwell for the left-back position.

Jeremy Ngakia (West Ham to Watford – Free)

Last on the list is a player who you may not have heard of and has only made 12 league appearances in English football.

Introducing 20-year-old Jeremy Ngakia. The Deptford-born right-back joined Watford on a free from West Ham and has started in all of Watford's seven opening league fixtures.

Ngakia broke into the Hammers side last season post lockdown but was offered no assurances at the London Stadium with Ryan Fredericks holding a firm grip on the right-back role.

The Hornets are currently 3rd in the Championship and Ngakia has been a shining light in Vladimir Ivic’s side as they search for an immediate return to the top flight.

As mentioned above he is only 20 and with a bit more experience, there is no reason why Jeremy Ngakia can’t progress to be a top right back in English football, potentially in the Premier League.