The transfer window may have slammed shut last week but Aston Villa and Birmingham may yet battle it out for some crucial signings.
Both clubs have been busy this summer while perhaps not pushing the boat out as much as supporters might have hoped.
Villa look set to escape punishment from the Football League after raising £18million in player sales this summer.
Steve Bruce offloaded nine senior players in the transfer window, either permanently or on loan, in a bid to fall in line with Financial Fair Play regulations.
Bruce did sign seven players but, crucially, only spent an initial £2million on Glenn Whelan and Ahmed Elmohamady.
Former Chelsea captain John Terry and Robert Snodgrass from West Ham on loan are two of the big arrivals.
Last month manager Steve Bruce admitted: “I told people before the end of last season that there won’t be millions spent,” as reported by the Telegraph.
“I’ve had to balance the books. It’s always been a part of the manager’s job. In that respect, I’m trying to clean up the mess.”
Harry Redknapp is in a similar situation at Birmingham after replacing Gianfranco Zola.
He has been busy working his transfer magic, a trademark of his career, with the likes of Brentford winger Jota, Issac Vassell and David Stockdale some of the notable arrivals.
Both sides are expected to at least mount a bid for the Championship playoff places but neither have started well with just one win apiece from their opening five games, Villa 18th and Birmingham 20th as a result.
But there could be hope for fans who felt more should have been done in the transfer window with some quality players still available on free transfers.
Kolo Toure
The veteran former Arsenal and Liverpool defender played his part in helping Celtic qualify for the Champions League last season.
But Toure, 36, moved on earlier this month when he returned to the Ivory Coast to accept a role as their Olympic team and under 23s assistant manager.
“I just want to carry on playing if there is a good option,” he said earlier this month as reported by the Daily Record.
“But at the same time if there is a good opportunity as a coach I’d like a player-coach role to inspire young players because that is what I was doing at Celtic for the last six months.”
Jan Kirchhoff
Still only 26 former Sunderland and Bayern Munich midfielder Jan Kirchhoff could be a real coup for either Villa or Birmingham.
The player has 22 Premier League and 80 Bundesliga appearances to his nam but injuries have hampered his progress.
The big German had established himself has a mainstay of the Black Cats side when brought in as a January signing by Sam Allardyce during the club’s successful fight for survival in 2015/16.
If either club can get him fit and keep him fit he could prove a crucial addition in the Championship particularly as he can fill in at the back as well.
Joe Ledley
The Wales international, an important part of Chris Coleman’s Euro 2016 squad, is a free agent after leaving Crystal Palace.
Bizarrely as yet the 30 year old has not been tied down to a new club despite 21 Premier League appearances last season.
Ledley will need a new club to bolster his chances of making Wales’ World Cup team next summer, should they qualify.
And his experience in the middle of the park could be just what both clubs need as they bid for a return to the big time.
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