So Jordan Henderson heads out of the door and, within days, Brentford announce the signing of Mamadou Sangaré from Lens for a club-record fee. A club-record fee. For a central midfielder.

Had someone suggested that five years ago Brentford would be spending close to £40 million on a midfielder from one of France’s top clubs, they’d probably have been politely escorted out of the pub and into the back of an ambulance.

This time last year Christian Nørgaard moved on and Henderson arrived almost seamlessly. Twelve months later Henderson departs and Sangaré is already through the door before the serious friendlies start. Whether by design or coincidence, Brentford have become rather good at making sure one chapter closes just as another begins.

The contract tells you plenty as well. Five years, with the option of a sixth. Brentford aren’t buying someone to get them through an awkward phase – they’re investing in a player they clearly believe can become a key part of the club for years to come. Future proofing.

Just as importantly, he’ll get a full pre-season under Keith Andrews. No arriving on deadline day like Dango Ouattara’s when the snake left, no trying to learn everyone’s names while being thrown straight into the starting eleven. He’ll have time on the training ground, time to understand what’s expected of him and time to settle before the Premier League gets underway.

Born in Mali, Sangaré came through the Yeelen Olympique academy before moving to Red Bull Salzburg. Like plenty of players in that system, he served his apprenticeship on loan, gaining experience with FC Liefering, Grazer AK, Zulte Waregem and Hartberg before establishing himself at Rapid Vienna.

Lens made their move just a year ago and, by all accounts, it proved money well spent.

He made 33 appearances as Lens finished runners-up in Ligue 1 and lifted the Coupe de France for the first time in their history. Three goals, three assists, a place in the Ligue 1 Team of the Year and the Prix Marc-Vivien Foé, awarded to the league’s outstanding African player, suggest Brentford have got an upgrade on Frank The Tank this time. Add 16 caps for Mali and an AFCON quarter-final appearance and he’s arriving with a decent amount of experience despite still being only 24.

Keith Andrews confirmed this wasn’t a player identified last week.

“Mamadou is someone that we’ve tracked for quite some time. He’s been on our radar and was a player we were really keen to bring in.”

That sounds far more like Brentford’s usual approach. Identify the player early, monitor him closely and move when the timing is right. Even if we are paying top dollar.

Andrews was equally clear that Sangaré isn’t simply replacing Henderson.

“He’s a player that adds to a really good midfield that we already have; he also adds qualities that we don’t have. He complements the current midfield.”

It’s going to be fascinating to see exactly where and how he’ll fit in. And alongside who.

There’s also the character side, something Brentford have rarely compromised on.

“He fits everything we want from a Brentford player, on and off the pitch. He’ll be a player that I think will become very, very popular with the fans.”

We’ve heard similar sentiments before about new arrivals, but it’s become one of the club’s greatest strengths. Ability gets players noticed. Character often determines whether they succeed in West London.

Whether a club-record fee proves to be money well spent won’t be known straight away, however, supporters have seen enough highly-rated signings over the years to know although there’s never a guarantee, the club get more right than wrong.

Dave Lane