Championship: Fulham not favourites despite huge buy

Ross McCormack scored 53 goals in 144 league games for Leeds

Cardiff remain Championship frontrunners despite Fulham spending 11 million on one of their former forwards...

Some positive PR at last for Leeds in a summer that has seen new owner Massimo Cellino replace an ex-Premier League manager in Brian McDermott with former Forest Green boss Dave Hockaday, as they managed to negotiate the 11 million sale of unsettled forward Ross McCormack.

The buyers weren't one of the many Premier League clubs credited with an interest, but relegated Fulham. Their outlay is even more outlandish when you consider that it was just six months ago that they splurged the same sum on Kostas Mitroglou in an unsuccessful all-or-nothing survival gamble.

Rewind the clock a year or so and McCormack's fee puts him in the same territory as Christian Eriksen upon arrival at Tottenham and Carlos Tevez as Man City handed him over to Juventus.

Admittedly, McCormack's statistics do confirm that he is one of the best attacking options available at Championship level, while at 27-years-old, there is reason to believe that he has yet to peak.

On the three occasions that he has managed 35 or more second-tier starts, he has delivered 18 or more goals, while Opta note that he played a part in a league-leading 36 goals for Leeds last term.

However, with no Premier League experience or assurance that he will step up, Fulham are effectively shelling out 11 million in hope of a promotion-securing first-season strike rate, a huge price to pay, especially on someone who rarely produces two prolific campaigns in succession.

The Championship winner odds support the view that the Scotland international provides no guarantee of a Premier League return.

The Cottagers are still 10.09/1 second favourites behind Cardiff at 9.08/1. The Bluebirds acted rapidly to strengthen their attack at far less expense with Adam Le Fondre, Javi Guerra and Federico Macheda, as well as recruiting Kagisho Dikgacoi and Guido Burgstaller.

Others appear capable of a title bid. Derby are 10.5n/a to follow West Brom and Reading's guide to turning play-off final agony into table-topping joy, demoted Norwich are 11.010/1 to bounce back and Wigan appeal at 11.5n/a after overcoming a poor start and Europa League and FA Cup distractions to come fifth in 2013/14.