I think Slot had made his mind up about this squad in Nov/December, which is partly why we have seen such little rotation. I would speculate that Hughes, and the recruitment team, have had plenty of advance notice on areas he feels we need to strengthen. Ideally we will be in a position where we make a few Mac Allister style transfers where the deal was all be signed months in advance and nobody else stood much of a chance. Release clauses obviously help that, but getting in early and starting the sales pitch well in advance of the window is always going to make a player both wanted and important. If Wolands source is right and Hughes has been working all hours then it's a welcome sign that there are plenty of plans in motion.