Planning pays off with an exciting blend of arrivals STATISTICS SUGGEST INCE IS NOTHING BUT A SOLID AND SUITABLE SIGNING

FROM the business Town have done so far this transfer window, it’s clear the club aren’t deviating too far from the template that got them promoted, but simply upgrading the constituent parts within their existing framework.

Although things have been somewhat quiet on the sales front, it’s clear those in charge have identified the areas in which they wish to improve, found the appropriate talent to recruit and pressed ahead without hesitation.

Already behind schedule, having gone through the play-off process, credit is due for just how efficiently they’ve gone about being in the best shape possible for pre-season.

On the field, we know what to expect from Wagner – his team in a 4-2-3-1 formation, looking to create opportunities off the back of tireless pressing, opening up sides when they’re at their most vulnerable with a potent blend of speed and precision.

This summer echoes how 2016/17 preparation went, with a sense of the club heading into the unknown on a tidal wave of goodwill from supporters, all the while being dismissed by those outside of the town.

In much the same way few expected Town to attack the Championship in the manner they did, even fewer have backed them to survive in the Premier League which, you’d imagine, is exactly how the club like it.

Since the signings of Depoitre and Mooy, the club have added a further seven players to their ranks, which is far from bad going, especially with the latest being Danish international defender Mathias Jorgensen.

Having now broken their transfer record four times in just about as many days, the squad that will see them through the majority of the Premier League season is taking real shape.

Danny Williams offers dynamic cover and competition for Jonathan Hogg, as does Scott Malone for Chris Lowe, while now record signing Steve Mounie will be the first choice to lead the line.

Jonas Lossl adds experience to the goalkeeping department, while Kasey Palmer looks set to start next season as he did last - in the hole behind the striker, offering variety and unpredictability in attack.

The most intriguing deal, however - and definitely the one that has been most widely discussed - is the capture of Tom Ince from Derby County, who was largely believed to have been their best player.

While his attacking attributes are what most have concentrated on, it’s his ability to fulfil several roles and provide variety that will be the key to his success under Wagner, and what makes the move one of the most exciting.

Likely to start wide on the left in place of Rajiv Van La Parra to begin with, he could tuck further inside in attack to allow his full-back room to overlap, making best use of his speed and stronger right boot when cutting in.

Able to mirror the manner in which Kachunga arrives late in the box to create additional bodies to aim at, that’s where his nose for goal will come most in use.

What’s most underrated about Ince, however, is his vision with the ball at his feet and the quality of his final product.

The benefit of having three players as adaptable as Kachunga, Palmer and Ince playing in the same area of the field is their ability to fluidly swap positions without warning.

When playing centrally off the back of Mounie, there will be chances for Ince to use his forward as a running block to play one-twos off, or a distraction and dummy runner when looking to slip in behind himself.

Far from a happy accident, it’s the same type of role Izzy Brown often played for the side, and his ability to evade defenders within that system was a key to both his and the team’s success in the second half of last season.

However, this is the point at which most people discussing Ince have said something along the lines of: “But he’s a lazy player and doesn’t defend enough. That won’t work in a Wagner team”.

And they’d be right if the underlying point were accurate ... but it isn’t.

When comparing Ince’s defensive contributions for Derby last season against those who played in comparable roles for Town (Kachunga, Van La Parra and Palmer) there’s little to no difference in how he applied himself.

Winning more tackles per game than both Kachunga and Palmer, it was only Van La Parra who won the ball more than Ince managed last term.

He intercepted as many passes per game as Palmer, and significantly more than either Kachunga or Van La Parra - and it’s a similar story where blocks and clearances are concerned.

This is no ‘trolley dash’ of recruitment, as has been suggested in some places.

And the players who have come in have an average age of 25.5 so it’s clear the club aren’t just buying for the sake of it with no mind to the future.

Dean Hoyle and the management should be praised for the excellent work that’s been done.

They’re building a young, exciting, hard working side full of pace, and they’ve the perfect head coach in place to get the very best out of them.