Carlisle United’s promotion goal has been personified by big Charlie Wyke news: View | OneFootball

The return of the forward marks a step change in what the Blues can do in the transfer market.

Carlisle United must feel like the bride this summer, after many moons of feeling like the bridesmaid.

For a long time, the Cumbrians had many factors working against them in the transfer market. Their geographical location combined with a smaller budget made it tough to sign players of the calibre they wanted.

A fresh pair of hands and approach has been brought to Brunton Park now by the Piatak family, one that has solved the latter, and is attempting to turn the former into a positive.

The official arrival of the American family back in November was one that lived in the memory of that day's opposition centre-back, and soon to be Carlisle player, Terell Thomas, who was convinced to move to the Scottish border despite most of his career being played down south.

Geography wasn't an issue for him, and a lack of money has been proven to be a hindrance of the past following the announcement of United's latest signing (at the time of writing, who knows how active the club will be between now and the time you read this): Charlie Wyke.

Charlie Wyke signing is the marker of a promotion-pushing team

There is complete clarity among those working at Brunton Park about the goal for this upcoming season. Promotion is the minimum.

After initial mixed messaging about the budget that Paul Simpson was going to be able to work with, everyone at Brunton Park now looks to be singing from the same hymn sheet.

Simpson's claims about a mid-table budget have surely been disproven by Wyke's arrival at the club. The former Wigan Athletic, Rotherham United, Sunderland and Bradford City number nine has dropped down a league to come back to the Cumrbian side, nearly eight years on from leaving.

He turned down opportunities to play at a higher level in order to return, and the chances are that he hasn't come back on the cheap.

A team with a mid-table budget in League Two would surely struggle to sign someone who was in the Championship for the back-half of last season, and the same can be said for a team with similar levels of aspiration.

Many have called it a statement signing. Rightfully so; it was only a few seasons ago that Wyke netted 26 times in League One for the Black Cats.

Carlisle aren't planning on sitting around in the boring nothingness that can come with being in that 10th-16th range. They have made their intentions well and truly clear with this one. They're here to be at the top, and are willing to do what's necessary to give them the best chance of doing so.

Carlisle's next additions are key to ensuring Charlie Wyke's success

As much as their new number 10 is a brilliant acquisition, he's a striker that doesn't have the natural gifts of a player that usually wears that number.

Wyke will always be in the right place to take chances. He scored at a rate of 0.58 goals per 90 for Wigan in Carlisle's former division last season.

But the opportunities need to come to him most of the time; he won't be strutting about making chances for himself most games.

From wide areas, the likes of Cameron Harper and whoever Carlisle bring in to start at right wing-back should be able to provide aerial service. But having someone to slip sly balls into feet and in behind will make the club's new shiny toy much more fun.

There isn't somebody in Simpson's current crop of players that is an obvious candidate to consistently do that. This needs to be a part of their search going forward, but, thankfully, they've left themselves plenty of time to do it.