I make Port Vale 25 to our 22, not including youth/first year pros. If distributed evenly, that's an extra option in defence, midfield and attack.
In terms of budget, Rides was one of our better paid players if that leaked wages table was correct and his deal at Bradford was reportedly an improvement.. If the bulk of their first teamers are on similar wages they won't be on a similar budget. Threlkeld came from Salford, who don't pay peanuts, while the likes of Canavan, Cooke and Evans have pedigrees at a higher level and won't come have cheap.