While the Reds continue to labour under the terms of their transfer embargo, with most of the rumours around the City Ground being about potential departures, opening-day opponents Brighton, Sheffield Wednesday and Brentford have all snapped up new players.
Brighton have signed Israel international forward Tomer Hemed from Almeria in Spain for an undisclosed fee on a three-year deal with manager Chris Hughton confident the player will adapt well to life in the English game.
The Owls have done a deal to bring FC Twente defender Darryl Lachman to Hillsborough for an undisclosed fee.
Brentford, meanwhile, have signed French central defender Yoann Barbet on a four-year deal, the 22-year-old joining from second tier club Chamois Niortais in his homeland.
All of the deals show that even the second tier of the English game is an attractive proposition for players, putting them in with a chance of getting into the Premier League with either their new clubs or through the shop window of a successful season.