This time next year we very much hope we are stuck into the madness that involves Ireland's presence at a major tournament, as our qualification for the 2018 World Cup in Russia has gone well so far.
A year is a long time in football, and every player in the Ireland squads over recent times will know that a strong season at club level could get them the nod for some World Cup football as we currently don't have too many nailed-on starters.
That said, it's going to be difficult for a number of players, and indeed for Ireland as a team, if a few players remain at clubs where they likely won't see much playing time, so with that in mind we've listed some Irish transfers we'd love to see happen before the transfer deadline.
Shane Long
After a disappointing season in terms of appearances with the Saints it's clear that Shane Long fell down the pecking order, and while Claude Puel is gone, we can't see the new manager favouring long ahead of Charlie Austin and Manolo Gabbiadini.
With that in mind, it is vital for Ireland to see Long get regular football, and he would be a dream fit for a newly promoted side who need somebody willing to actually put in the legwork to graft and earn points. In an ideal world a team with more stability would show Shane some love, but with the injuries it's not looking likely at the moment.
Ideal move: Newcastle United
Kevin Long
Long played three times for Ireland over the past month and looked like he is capable of playing international football. Having not had a sniff at Burnley until the final weeks of the season, we'd rather he leave in search for more minutes as it's clear that Martin O'Neill liked what he saw. Michael Keane is likely to move on, but you'd have to imagine Burnley would re-invest the massive fee they would receive in a replacement.
In that case, with John O'Shea leaving, Sunderland could do with another Irishman, and if Long could get a full season of Championship football in he would be in good shape to go to Russia if we can qualify.
Ideal move: Sunderland
James McCarthy
A transfer for McCarthy would be music to the ears of Martin O'Neill as it would mean he doesn't have to talk to Ronald Koeman about him anymore.
For the player, it will be increasingly tough to find playing time with the emergence of Tom Davies and the strong performances of Idrissa Gueye, so a move to a stable Premier League side would make us happy. West Brom have been linked, and it's sounds just right.
Ideal move: West Brom
Daryl Murphy
We're not exactly blessed with strikers in Irish football at the moment, and while we're all looking forward to seeing how Seanie Maguire gets on a Preston, at this moment in time Murphy's seat on the plane to Russia, if we get there, is guaranteed. That means we need him to play as much football between now and then as he can, and sadly we don't think that will come at Newcastle.
He's a proven goal-scorer at Championship level, so ideally one of the relegated sides would take him as their starting striker in the hopes of bouncing-back at the first try like Newcastle did.
Ideal move: Middlesbrough
Wes Hoolahan
If Cristiano Ronaldo does indeed move on from the Bernabeu, it's time for Wes to get the credit he deserves. Zizou, get on the phone and make it happen.
Ideal move: Real Madrid
We didn't say they had to be realistic! We could have said Randolph, but he'll have a fight for the West Ham #1 shirt, we could have said Glenn Whelan, but he always finds a way into the starting-lineup, so feck it, let's give our readers the mental image of Wesso in the iconic white of Real Madrid. Looks good, doesn't it?
Be sure to get in touch if with any Irish transfers you'd love to see this summer.
