Nigel Clough says Nottingham Forest and the rest of the Championship will have to be smart in a very different transfer market this summer.
Mansfield Town manager Clough says his club are unlikely to pay a transfer fee for any players in the current window, as they look to build a team to challenge for promotion from League Two.
That stance is not uncommon further down the pyramid, but Clough believes the financial impact of the coronavirus pandemic will extend further up the football food chain in the coming weeks.
Clough says teams in the second tier will need to be able to pick out smart free transfers to bolster squads when money is set to be tight beyond clubs with parachute payments.
"You'll definitely have to be clever with free transfers. We've not paid a fee this year and I don't think we will be," he told Nottinghamshire Live.
"Good players will always be in demand. They'll still command good deals.
"Unfortunately, there's going to be a lot of players unable to get clubs, but the best ones will always get fixed up.
"That applies to the Championship and everywhere else. You ask any manager, and they'll say recruitment is tough.
The Stags boss was speaking at the Samantha Birtles Trophy charity match on Sunday as he managed the Garry Birtles Superstars team alongside European Cup winner Martin O'Neill.
On Friday, Clough used his links with former club Nottingham Forest to sign promising goalkeeper George Shelvey on a season-long loan.
Shelvey is set to vie with Manchester United's Nathan Bishop for the gloves, with Bishop poised to get the first chance to impress.
Clough admits he might well look to make further use of his Reds connections to sign more prospects on loan.
"You never know," he said when asked if he would look for more loans from Forest.
"I'm pleased to get George in. We've got two goalkeepers in on loan.
"It's an area we needed to address. We've got Nathan Bishop from Manchester United and George from Forest.
"They're two young goalkeepers, but I don't mind if they're good enough. It's a good experience for them."
