Birmingham City boss Steve Bruce admits this summer's market was hugely competitive.
As Bruce put it: "It's getting more and more difficult [to compete in the transfer market]. We've had frees, loans, vagabonds, waifs, strays, jailbirds - the lot!
"You have to wheel and deal. Johan Djourou, for instance: how on earth could we afford to buy him? To get someone of his quality on loan is a real bonus.
"To be fair to the owners, when they have to go into their pockets they do. They give everything that the club generates back."