Are there any diamonds in the rough of the Championship?

As the season draws to a close our attention can start to drift towards the summer, especially when you consider that we are just about safe.

Player signings will no doubt feature heavily over the coming months in what I anticipate to be a tough, long, drawn out summer transfer window. Why will it be tough? Simple - we have money, and other clubs know that so will look to exploit as many pennies out of us as they can. Combine that with the fact that we have an owner who drives a hard bargain (some would say too hard) and you have the recipe for said long, drawn out summer.

Newcastle will no doubt be looking high and low for new players in the summer, or at least I'd like to think they will be anyway. Some of them will be from abroad, some of them may be from the Premier League, but there could also be others that aren't from the elite leagues and currently ply their trade in the second tier.

So with that in mind, is there anyone worth pursuing in the Championship? I've kept half an eye on that particular league this season, and I have to say that there are a few players who I would take a punt on. Let's take a look at them.

Ashley Williams - The Swansea central defender is widely regarded as one of the best non-Premier League defenders in the English league system. We've been linked with him before, several times, which is why I've kept an eye on him. Strong, solid, dependable with the fair bit of pace - I'd say he'd be worth a punt.

Adel Taarabt - Quite simply a class act, although he can also be rather huffy. Still, the amount of goals and assists he has racked up this season surely can't be ignored? He is entering the last twelve months of his contract so will be that bit cheaper to sign, although I still reckon it will take £5 million plus a makeweight in the form of Wayne Routledge to do a deal, especially as QPR are pretty much nailed on to be in the Premier League next season.

Danny Graham - How about another Gateshead lad up front? Graham has notched 25 goals in 40 appearances this season and has managed 39 goals in his two season Watford career to date - that's a goal every two-and-a-bit games! At only 25-years-old he has a fair chunk of his career in front of him so would perhaps be worth a shot?

Shane Long - I really rate this lad and feel he is a similar player to Kevin Doyle. Both have similar goalscoring records and both run their backsides off for the team. The 24-year-old is enjoying his first season as a first choice striker at Reading, and it shows he is taking his chance when you consider he has knocked in 23 goals this term. I'd have him at Newcastle.

Those are four of my picks of players that have caught my eye in the Championship this season. There are probably more than just these to be honest, like Max Gradel, but these players immediately jump out at me and I think they could all do a job in the Premier League.

Worth a punt? Any suggestions?