'We're grateful to Portsmouth owners': Rich Hughes assesses success of Blues' busy transfer window

The Blues this summer recruited 15 players to bolster their return to the Championship, including three arriving on season-long loans.

Meanwhile, seven were signed for undisclosed transfers fees, of which just one is above the age of 24, demonstrating the commitment to snapping up promising young talent.

The sporting director admits Pompey are ‘financially smaller’ than some clubs, thereby putting an emphasis on the recruitment team effectively utilising those funds at their disposal.

And Hughes is delighted with how a busy transfer window has fared for the newly-promoted League One champions.

He told The News: ‘There are always certain things you probably would have liked to have done, but, on the balance of it, everything we have done we are pleased with.

‘We’ve brought in some good future assets, we are not overly reliant on loans, and the shape of the squad is definitely better than it was when the transfer window opened.

‘We had done our research on what the market would be like, although practical applications can sometimes be different when you get into the throes of it, so we had to adapt quickly,

‘We wanted to be stronger, we wanted to be younger, we wanted permanent assets - and we have achieved a lot of those things. Now we’re really excited to see how the group develops and pushes forward from this point.

‘We are in a sensible position in terms of how we cut our cloth accordingly. Some clubs want to operate in a different way, but we know we are going to be financially smaller than some clubs.

‘With the greatest of respect, we have always known that. That’s not anything which has changed and we are really happy with what we get. Our job is to best utilise it and protect it moving forward.

‘We are grateful to Michael (Eisner) and the board for the freedom they have given us, the finance they released on deals that didn’t come off. At no point have we ever felt as if we’ve not been backed.

‘It’s sticking within our strategy, sticking within our logic. One of the really handy things about the way we operate is we have rough outlines of structures of budgets and available monies, but also there is always a willingness to review everything case by case.

‘If something is not within the parameters of the budget, if we can give a logic and understanding - and I’ve said this on numerous occasions - the board have always been forthcoming in allowing us to back that.’

Transfer fees were involved in the recruitment of Reuben Swann, Jacob Farrell, Elias Sorensen, Abdoulaye Kamara, Nicolas Schmid, Harvey Blair and Ibane Bowat.

Admittedly, six of the seven didn’t possess a Football League appearance until their Fratton Park arrival, while four have been recruited outside the UK.

Regardless, Hughes has praised Tornante’s willingness to back him in the transfer market this summer.

He added: ‘There’s a reason why we don’t disclose transfer fees. The problem is when you start talking about finances, you give people opportunities to compare and contrast other deals.

‘I wouldn’t be prepared to talk about financial amounts in terms of whole deals, but we felt we got good value in the deals we’ve completed and are pleased with the players we have brought in with the finances we’ve spent.

‘People are always going to throw out numbers, some are going to be right and some are going to be wrong. Our position and stance as a football club has never been to disclose these, that's just the way we choose to operate.

‘During my time at the football club, there has always been that propensity to spend money and bring in the right types of players for the right value deals. So absolutely no complaints at all about that.’