Huddersfield Town haven’t messed around at the start of the summer transfer window, strengthening Carlos Corberan’s squad with the signing of four free agents.

That was needed, it has to be said, with Huddersfield managing to sleepwalk from mid-table into a relegation battle during the second-half of last season.

Lee Nicholls has been signed to bolster the goalkeeping ranks, whilst Ollie Turton and Matty Pearson have been added to offer some much-needed defensive cover.

There’s also the return of Jordan Rhodes to get relatively excited about. He’s not hit the heights expected of him at Sheffield Wednesday, but Huddersfield is a place where he’s had so much success before.

So, with those signings in mind and looking at the existing squad at the John Smith’s Stadium, we’ve opted to piece together an early look at what the starting XI could look like next season:

Nicholls has arrived at the club and looks a really solid signing to bolster the goalkeeping department. However, you question whether he’s going to come in and take Schofield’s place.

Upon his arrival, there was a lot of chatter about Nicholls arriving as competition for Schofield, rather than as the club’s go-to goalkeeper, so expect the man that finished last season with the gloves to retain them at the start of 2021/22.

Schofield will be better for the experience of last season and hopefully prove to be a safe pair of hands for Huddersfield. If not, Nicholls is waiting in the wings.

Pearson arrives as a summer signing from Luton Town, who he featured for on 40 occasions last season in the Championship.

The 27-year-old has the ability to play at right-back and centre-back, which makes him the perfect fit for a right sided centre-back in a three-man defensive unit.

That’s a position that Corberan underlined he could play upon arrival, suggesting that the 3-5-2 that was on show at times last season might be the go-to system Huddersfield use this year.

You’d imagine that Pearson hasn’t been brought in to warm the bench. He will be looking to start and play a key role in the side.

There’s scope here for Huddersfield to go out and buy a new centre-back to play in the middle of a back-three that’s a little bit better on the ball than Sarr.

However, it’s hard to ignore the fact that Sarr played a lot of football last season for Huddersfield and will likely be part of Corberan’s side if the squad stays as it is.

Sarr offers a really physical option in the heart of defence and, minus a couple of sloppy mistakes, was fairly consistent last year for Corberan.

His strength in the opposition penalty area from set-pieces will also be an added plus for Town.

Upon Toffolo’s return from injury towards the end of last season he was struggling to get up and down the left flank, which led to Corberan tucking him in as a centre-back in a defensive three.

It’s a position that Corberan knows Toffolo can play and if Huddersfield’s business falls into place like we expect, there will be adequate left-back competition coming in.

Of course, you don’t want to lessen Toffolo’s impact on this side too much, but a role on the left of a three-man defence for one of Corberan’s most reliable performers will make Huddersfield a lot more solid.

Toffolo’s use of the ball will also allow Huddersfield to play through the lines as well as direct in this 3-5-2.

Pipa is a natural pick at right wing-back after a stellar first season in the Championship.

The Spanish under-21 international scored two goals and registered four assists last season, showing his attacking instinct well from full-back.

It’s a shame that injuries appeared to be getting the better of him when Huddersfield switched to a wing-back system, as it could have really elevated the 23-year-old’s game further.

So, naturally, there can be excitement about seeing Pipa in this side, providing width from the right and looking to add to those six goal involvements.

He could be a key player for Corberan once more.

One of the main strengths that Turton is going to bring is his versatility. He was excellent in a number of different roles for Blackpool and looks a really solid addition to this squad.

He can play at right-back or on the right of a back-three, but we’ve opted for him in the middle of midfield, where he will likely combine with Pearson and Pipa in the right channel.

What Turton would offer is support for Pearson when Pipa is attacking, covering any vacated space well and not letting Corberan’s back-three become isolated.

It’s not the most inspired of midfield selections, but it would make Huddersfield a lot more solid through the spine.

Another player that will be important to making Huddersfield solid is Hogg, who will shield the back-three at all times.

Hogg is a player that Corberan never liked to be without last season and, in truth, Huddersfield struggled without the veteran midfielder’s presence.

Again, he’s hardly a player that gets you on the edge of your seat, but Hogg offers stability in the middle of the pitch and allows the more attack-minded players on show to do their thing.

Alongside Turton, he should make Huddersfield a lot more solid and protect the defence from getting exposed like it did at times last season.

Firstly, there’s every chance that someone will come in and look to lure O’Brien away from Huddersfield this summer at some point.

However, as things stand he will be a Huddersfield player next season and fans will hope it stays that way.

This system would allow O’Brien so much freedom to get forwards and provide energy in the middle of the pitch for Corberan. At times last season, he was having to do that from out wide, but that shouldn’t be an issue next year.

With Turton and Hogg disciplined behind him, O’Brien can get forwards, pull into the left channel (as he likes to do) and just be the ball of energy he so often is.

Reports are suggesting that Ruffels could well be Huddersfield’s fifth signing of the summer transfer window, with the 27-year-old seen as the competition that Toffolo needs.

Ruffels scored six goals and registered six assists from left-back last season at Oxford United, elevating his attacking game and helping Karl Robinson’s side into the play-offs again.

He’s set to be a free agent this summer and would really add to Huddersfield’s squad at wing-back.

With Toffolo potentially tucked in-behind Ruffels and O’Brien also creating an overload in the left channel, it is an area of the pitch to get excited about if you are of a Huddersfield persuasion.

Fingers crossed the deal gets done.

It will be a toss up between Fraizer Campbell and Jordan Rhodes for a place in the side at the start of next season, you feel.

Campbell is a player that Corberan loves and if he goes that way, you wouldn’t be surprised.

However, Rhodes has returned to Huddersfield and is looking to rediscover his goalscoring touch.

If he does that, there’s little doubt that Corberan might well be forced to play one of the most natural goalscorers we’ve seen in the EFL over the last 15 years.

It is, of course, a big ask for Rhodes to do that, but Huddersfield fans will hope to see Rhodes pick up where he left off.

Koroma is another player that knows where the back of the net is, with the forward scoring eight goals in just 20 appearances in the Championship last season.

That’s a figure that could be so much higher had Koroma not missed around four months of the season with a hamstring injury.

Most of those goals did come from the left, but a switch in system might leave Huddersfield relying on their wing-backs for width.

In that eventuality, Koroma would have to play through the middle, which will only increase his chance of scoring goals more regularly.

The forward will be one to watch in the Championship next season.