Perhaps the plan is to sign attacking midfielders but then convert them into all round midfielders by improving their defensive game. Hourihane and Brownhill were both considered to be attacking midfielders but with some coaching they're now up their with the best all round midfielders in the league. It's much easier to improve a player defensively than make a player better technically.
Hourihane and Brownhill both learned their trade at a much easier level, championship is a unforgiving league to be leaning in. Especially when everyone around you in the same boat as you .