Transfer watch - early days for AFCB

Eddie Howe is very keen to get the right personnel in for the new season and not too many additions. After one failed bid for Danny Ings the phone lines have gone very quiet, but behind the scenes I am sure activity is in full swing to find a new striker and possibly another defender. Our midfield looks pretty strong, so Eddie might not look to do business in this area this summer.

It's down to business for Eddie and Jason.

There are a few players that Howe is probably considering if the Ings deal is a dead one. A player that he has worked with before is Lyle Taylor who signed for AFCB in 2010 and has had a big season in Scottish First Division. Lyle would be a slightly cheaper option and is of similar age to Danny and has been quickly gaining experience at Falkirk. Is he now a different player to what we saw at AFCB?

Don't be surprised if Eddie and Jason have also been looking at young stars in League One like Febian Brandy at Walsall (Crawley Town), Adam Rooney (Swindon) or Sam Baldock (Bristol City). If Eddie is looking for more of a powerful player one of the candidates could be Leon Clarke who is currently at Coventry City, but I still think Eddie will encourage Wes Thomas to mend bridges and fulfil this role in the squad. I can hear you all groaning!

I don't believe Eddie's budget will enable him to go after the likes of Charlie Austin, but if he can look at experienced players in the Championship I expect he would be checking on David McGoldrick (Ipswich - played on loan at AFCB in 2007), Dexter Blackstock (Nottingham Forest) or Dwight Gayle (Peterborough), but the Fair Play rules will inhibit AFCB from making really big signings.

Of the young defenders in the Championship that caught they eye last year, Sam Byram (Leeds) is one candidate that stood out, but Leeds would demand a high price for the 19 year old. Tottenham's Adam Smith may become available again after his loan period with Millwall ended this summer and is a player AFCB know well.

Central defenders with experience could be poached from north of the boarder like Craig Barr (Livingston) or Craig Reid  (Morton). It's very hard to know how wide Eddie might cast the net in his search.

If permanent signings are what the club wants, then I would expect them to try and conclude deals before the Zurich pre-season match. If so, expect some activity in the next two weeks.

However, it's the loan market where Eddie might look to do more of his business and why we have not seen any activity so far. He'll be waiting for the latter part of the transfer window, when the loan moves are usually sorted out. It may be that this is also the way in which Eddie will look to whittle down our current crop of players by allowing several to be loaned out.