How have big-money Championship signings fared in the past?

Burnley striker Andre Gray got off the mark for his new club this weekend, scoring the first of what supporters will hope to be many more goals in a claret and blue shirt.

Gray, a £9m capture from Brentford during the summer transfer window, joins a long list of players to have made a big-money move to a Championship club.

With that in mind, Sports Mole looks at how other eyebrow-raising deals have worked out in the past - both good and bad.

Ross McCormack (Leeds United to Fulham - £8m)

The most recent example of a player moving between Championship clubs for a bloated figure, McCormack has already started to repay his £11m fee by bagging 23 goals during his 14 months at Craven Cottage.

Last season may have been one to forget for the Cottagers on the whole, but the Scotland international can be happy with his personal tally in a side that underperformed for large parts.

Already this term he has four goals in all competitions, including one in Sunday lunchtime's victory over Blackburn, putting him well on course to establish himself at the top of the scoring charts once more.

Verdict: HIT

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Charlie Austin (Burnley to Queens Park Rangers - £4m)

The fee may seem minimal in comparison to McCormack's, but QPR were taking a risk when signing Austin from Burnley two years ago. That was down to the Englishman's collapsed move to Hull City, which fell through due to "unforeseen complications" during a medical.

Harry Redknapp, unconcerned by any potential fitness issues, landed the man who would later fire the Hoops up to the Premier League at the first time of asking.

Austin successfully built on his 17-goal campaign in the Championship, too, winning many admirers during his stint in the top flight last term - including England boss Roy Hodgson, it seems - but no side could match his £15m valuation this summer.

Verdict: HIT

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Matt Mills (Reading to Leicester City - £5m)

During Leicester's spending spree under Sven-Goran Eriksson, Mills was brought to the club from Reading and instantly installed as captain.

Two red cards in the first four months of his Foxes career saw things turn awry very quickly, however, and once an underperforming Eriksson was shown the door, things only went from bad to worse for the centre-back.

Just nine more league appearances followed under new boss Nigel Pearson, with Mills joining Bolton Wanderers the following summer after a high-profile falling out with the coaching staff which led to him training with the youth squad.

Verdict: MISS

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Nathan Ellington (West Bromwich Albion to Watford - £3.25m)

While James Beattie proved a big hit when swapping Everton for Sheffield United, Ellington flopped in the same summer despite costing just £750,000 less than his fellow striker.

Watford broke their own transfer record to bring in the former West Brom man, but five goals in four years hardly provides value for money as far as the Hornets are concerned.

Ellington, who particularly thrived during his spell at Wigan Athletic, spent time out on loan at an array of clubs, before continuing his career elsewhere. The now 34-year-old was released by Southport in 2013 and has not been on the radar of any league side since.

Verdict: MISS

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Jordan Rhodes (Huddersfield Town to Blackburn Rovers - £8m)

Rhodes is one of those players who is very much worth his weight in gold. From 73 goals in 124 appearances at Huddersfield, to 74 in 135 for current suitors Blackburn, the Scotsman has a knack of finding the back of the net.

Despite Rhodes' undoubted talent, this really did seem like a staggering fee at the time, particularly considering all his previous strikes for the Terriers had come at League One level.

It is testament to the forward's consistent goalscoring form that he has been repeatedly linked with a move to the top flight, though after seeing another switch to the big time break down this summer it remains to be seen if he will ever get the move he appears desperate for.

Verdict: HIT

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