Transfer deadline day deals: The view from the Championship

1 Sep, 2011 James McMath England, Europe, Features, Gems of the Lower Leagues, Latest

WHILE the lavish spending of the Premier League’s big boys captured most of the limelight on transfer deadline day, there was also plenty of business done in the second tier. James McMath looks at some eye-catching signings made by Championship clubs.

Jermaine Beckford (to Leicester City from Everton)

We’re just five games into the season but if some people were to be believed, big-spending Leicester should have won the league by now. Even manager Sven Goran Eriksson has admitted promotion is a must if he is to keep his job.

The Foxes have been the Championship’s biggest spenders this summer and continued that trend on deadline day by bringing in Beckford in a deal reportedly worth up to £4 million.

Eriksson clearly felt his side was lacking a pacy, on-the-shoulder-of-the-last-defender-type forward, having seen more than one attempt to land Nicky Maynard from Bristol City rebuffed.

If Beckford was second choice, it could well be a blessing. The 27-year-old has a proven record in the Football League, albeit in League One, having scored 85 goals in 152 games for Leeds United, including 31 two seasons ago before his move to the Toffees.

Beckford scored 10 goals in his season at Goodison Park and will have his sights on making a swift return to the top flight with the Foxes.

Wade Elliott (to Birmingham City from Burnley)

Elliott was one of two experienced additions made by Blues boss Chris Hughton on deadline day, the 32-year-old arriving at the same time as Pablo Ibanez, the 30-year-old defender.

A winger, Elliott strengthens Birmingham in an area they were acutely short of cover in.

Elliott had spent six years at Turf Moor, twice winning the club’s player of the year award and earning himself legendary status by scoring the play-off final winner that saw the Clarets reach the top flight for the first time in 33 years.

Burnley’s top-flight spell was brief – just one season – but Elliott did his reputation no hard during that stint, playing every league game in the top flight.

Dependable and honest, expect Elliott to become popular with Blues fans in no time.

Ben Turner (to Cardiff City from Coventry City)

Defender Turner became Cardiff’s 10^th signing of the summer as manager Malky Mackay overhauled the squad inherited from Dave Jones that saw the Bluebirds flirt with but fail to secure promotion in consecutive seasons.

Turner, 23, moved to south Wales for a reported fee of £750,000 having progressed from the youth system at Coventry and established himself in the first team.

At 6ft 4is, Turner is predominantly a centre-back, but can provide cover at full-back. A threat from set pieces, Turner scored four goals in 14 appearances last season.

Cardiff have two very solid centre-backs in Mark Hudson and Anthony Gerrard, so the onus will be on Turner to stake his claim for a starting berth.

Acting as back-up is not an alien concept to Turner, who despite making his debut aged 17 in 2005, made fewer than 80 appearances for Coventry, although that would almost certainly be greater but for a serious knee injury sustained in November last year.

Joe Garner (to Watford from Nottingham Forest)

Garner’s days at Forest had been numbered for some time, though getting anyone to admit as much in the last couple of years always seemed difficult.

This fresh start, a clean break instead if a spell on loan, might be just what he needs to kick-start his career.

The 23-year-old striker has hit double figures for a season just once since turning professional five years ago. That was with Carlisle United in League One in 2007-08, when he scored 14 goals.

That season prompted Forest to part with £1.4m for his services but it never really happened for the 5ft 10ins striker at Forest.

Last season’s loan spell to Scunthorpe United gave him the chance to show his mettle. In the Iron’s ill-fated survival battle, Garner was one of the outstanding performers, scoring six goals in 17 appearances.

But Garner’s game is about more than just goals. He works exceptionally hard from the front and operates well in the wide channels, giving managers the option to play him as a second striker or out wide as part of a three-man frontline.

A fiery streak has landed Garner in trouble with officials down the years, but also tends to quickly endear him to supporters.

(photo credit: stevee111111 on Flickr)