Lewis Cox gives his West Brom transfer predictions

Express & Star

Lewis Cox sat down with Jonny Drury to preview West Brom's summer transfer activity. With the window opening in a few weeks time, Lewis looks at where Albion could strengthen first and how many signings they could make.

Transcript

00:00Toxie, the chance window is due to open in a few weeks' time. We've seen plenty of rumours

00:12flying around across the Championship and across the Premier League. Not a great deal

00:16in terms of Albion at the moment, but we do know it's going to be a big summit for Albion.

00:23I'm going to chuck you into Carl Schoolbrand's shoes now, Ian Pearce's shoes, Miles' shoes.

00:27Where do you think, or where would you do your first sort of bit of business in terms

00:32of your first couple of deals? Obviously, there's probably going to be quite a few in

00:35terms of Albion, in terms of incomings this summer. But where would your first two deals

00:43be for Albion? What are the major, main areas that you would want to target pretty early

00:48on in the window?

00:49Cheers, Jonny. I don't really envy being put in those pairs of shoes, but there you go.

00:56From what I understand, I do know that conversations are happening in regards to centre-half position.

01:00I know they're very keen and actively looking at centre-back options. Now, that's perhaps

01:05not surprising. Cedric Kipra, as it stands at this moment, and it's something we've reported

01:10for a few weeks now, we expect he's probably going to depart the club after the season

01:14he has. Kyle Bartley is a different conversation, isn't he? Also out of contract and being offered

01:18a deal. There's a fair chance that Kyle Bartley stays, but again, I suppose you've got to

01:23prepare for all eventualities. So, I expect at least one centre-half to arrive. Obviously,

01:27you've got Shemmy Ojo, you've got Caleb Taylor. There are options, but I'd expect at least

01:30one to arrive. And that's, as I say, where I think Albion are focusing at the minute.

01:35Not saying they aren't looking at other departments at all, but I do think that's a fair priority,

01:39another centre-half, because, you know, we speak about Caleb Taylor, he's only, with

01:43respect to him, a young, unproven-at-the-championship youngster, isn't he? So, yeah, I'd be looking

01:50at him. It's a bit of a stock cliché answer, but I'd have to say I'm looking up front as

01:55well. And that's not just because it's like goals, goals, goals. It's because of the struggle

01:59of the last couple of years. It's for Brandon Thomas of Santarum to shoulder the burden

02:03of everything last season. It's Daryl Deke not being fit for how long into the season.

02:10Josh Madger, we know what happened in his debut campaign. So, I'd want at least one

02:14other striking option. If those three strikers are to remain at the club, as I say, with

02:18Deke injured, I'd want one new recruit up top, I think. That's how I see it. So, I'd

02:25look there as another priority. And I do think, I know you asked for a couple, I think those

02:28are your immediate ones, dependent on too much change to the existing squad as we see

02:33it. I do also see, I do also probably see another wide option or another number 10.

02:39You know, one of those attackers. Obviously, there's a bit of speculation about John Swift's

02:43future, isn't there? Someone who's been out of the side. Grady Diangana, top performer

02:47for the most part last season, but always sort of of interest to clubs, isn't he, Grady?

02:52So, I'd want another attacking wide forward or a number 10 to check in. And for me, I

02:59hope he'd need working in the centre midfield as well. Look, we know players will let go,

03:04won't they, Chaliba and Villa. Reach can play there. So, as you're looking at it at the

03:08minute, you've got Moat, Yacuclu, Molumbi. And I mean, Okai has already been subject

03:14to Turkey rumour, hasn't he? But assuming it's the three of them, you're still looking

03:18at at least one more for me. You know, someone with a bit of midfield drive, a bit of a box

03:22to box, a bit of a Molumbi engine, but someone comfortable on the ball would be on my radar.

03:28And I gather that's how Albin are looking at it as well. And let's be honest, while

03:32I'll take you through every single position on the pitch, Johnny, we know about Albin's

03:37recent history at full-backs, don't we? And we know Furlong's had an excellent season,

03:42consistent, but you would think that Carlos would be looking for depth. Yes, perhaps an

03:49Ethan Ingram conversation to be had. Perhaps there's a Zac Astroff conversation to be had

03:53on the other full-back position. Perhaps either one of those might not, you know, Ethan Ingram

03:58might not sign a new deal or might go out on loan or something like that. But Connor

04:01Townsend as well on the left probably needs now Reach has left, especially that kicking

04:05on that competition of fans have called for backups and competition for Furlong and Townsend

04:10for ages, haven't they? So listed you a few positions there. In all, I counted about

04:15within all of that seven or eight recruits. Now, that's not to say all of those will happen.

04:20Look, some young players could get lent on a bit more. Ashworth, Ingram, you know, Caleb

04:25Taylor, there are others, aren't there? Whitwell, Fenton Hurd. So, but I think in that region

04:30of six to eight recruits is, and roughly in those positions is how I see it.

Category

Transcript

Be the first to comment

Recommended