Will West Brom's spend end as loan machine set to start ramping up?

Express & Star

Jonny Drury and Lewis Cox discuss West Brom's transfer activity and what is next for Albion this summer. Albion have spent around £7m on their first three signings - and are currently one of the top spenders in the Championship. They have a number of spots for loans still available - as well as being linked to free agents. And Jonny and Lewis discuss whether Albion's spending may now end and they could switch their focus for the rest of the window.

Transcript

00:00But this time, would it be surprising if Albion now go down the loan route

00:07and the free agent route because they've spent, you know, £7.5 million on Ireland?

00:13Do you think now the spending will kind of end?

00:19You know, we'll talk about the links and the links to players this week.

00:22Certainly this week anyway kind of suggests that.

00:24But do you think the spending is kind of over?

00:26Or, you know, it's a case of looking at good frees and young loans?

00:31Yes and no.

00:32And that's not sitting on the fence because I don't think there's a definitive answer to that.

00:35I don't necessarily think the pot's empty.

00:37It's not a case of the pot.

00:38I think it's more a case of profit and sustainability, isn't it?

00:41We've spoke about potential exits and that is on the cards this summer.

00:46I think what one to follow clearly.

00:48And I think the identity of who maybe leaves and what they leave for, you know,

00:54perhaps leans more towards what there's there to be.

00:58Any player that leaves will be replaced is my reading of it and understanding of it.

01:03So, again, if a quote-unquote big player left for a sizable fee,

01:09there'll be a lot there to work with in terms of replacement,

01:12in terms of maybe replacing them with two, three.

01:15You factor in loan fees as well, potentially.

01:16But if players leave who are more on the fringes for lesser fees,

01:21yes, it all helps the pot, but obviously it would free up lesser financial room to work in type things.

01:28So, I think the outlets for the three so far, as you mentioned,

01:32in the region of seven, seven and a half million,

01:34I think is, given Albion's position with financial fair play and everything,

01:39I think is a show and sign of ambition, really.

01:42I think, I mean, you always expect sort of the fees to typically generally come early,

01:47but not just early, you know, obviously it can happen later in the window.

01:51But, yeah, I think they've improved areas that needed improving with fees,

01:57not insignificant fees, let's be honest.

02:00I mean, Hegerberg's fee, really, the best part of five million,

02:03is the most Armin I've spent since Darrell Dike, was it?

02:06Start of 2022.

02:07So, I mean, that's a show, isn't it?

02:10And Mikey Johnson was this time last year.

02:13And to be honest, look at Atam Abani at the start of the year.

02:18A sign that Albion and Bilkel and Shillam Patel,

02:21within what they can do regulation-wise, PSR,

02:28will back the head coach, will look to improve things and spend.

02:33However, it's not an endless pit, you know.

02:37There's not, because of rules and PSR and how close Albion are.

02:40Obviously, we know about the 39 million limit within a three-year cycle that can't be exceeded.

02:47Albion won't trouble that because the threat and the punishment is, you know,

02:52potential points deduction, all of that stuff,

02:54which is obviously a very worst-case scenario, really,

02:58and could be potentially disastrous if you're fighting for promotion.

03:01So, the loan market will be used, and you've said it before, haven't we,

03:08needs to be used better.

03:11It's always, I think, every summer and whenever you make loans,

03:16I mean, loans, look, Mason Holgate last year is not a young loan, was he?

03:20What is he?

03:2026, 27, been here before, kind of experience.

03:23You're kind of hopeful you're getting a real seasoned pro,

03:26and he's going to be a solid stand-up format.

03:28He didn't have a great season, did he?

03:31I think that's fair to say.

03:32He didn't tear the place up.

03:35He, you know, did okay in spells, but you're kind of hopeful of more,

03:39I think, for that calibre of loan signing.

03:42Typically, they're younger, and I think with any young loan, really.

03:46I mean, Rakic was another one last summer, wasn't he, who wasn't younger?

03:49More probably mid-20s, played a lot of football.

03:51More Valencia, you know, that sort of thing.

03:55Yet, Albin didn't get the return on a player like that, did they?

03:57They just didn't.

03:58He was obviously poor and sent back.

04:01You can almost forgive the young loans that don't come off.

04:04Lewis Dobbin, young player last year.

04:08Yes, was sold for free, comes with a bit of pedigree,

04:10featured for Everton, but didn't work either, did he?

04:13You can almost forgive the younger ones not quite happening.

04:16You know, it might be their first loan.

04:17And it was pretty much Dobbin's only second experience of regular football.

04:22The young loans might come in, having never played consistent football in their life,

04:25then they're chucked in in the championship.

04:27It's tough.

04:28However, you only have to look back a few years ago with Albin, don't you?

04:31How transformative they can be for a season and how much they can lead your season.

04:36And look, that's where the recruitment team earned their corn, isn't it?

04:39That's where Ian Pearce could thrive for this season ahead,

04:43and Andrew Nesta as well, by the way.

04:45Or the loans come in as not good enough again.

04:50And it can make the difference, can't it?

04:51Let's be honest, because, yes, they've been able to spend on three players so far,

04:56a couple of them in around the million, million and a half mark.

04:58And yes, they're not insignificant fees for Albin,

05:01but really there's so much value to be getting out of the loans.

05:05But let's also be honest, how much of the top half of the championship,

05:09or all of the championship, are looking for those best loans, Johnny?

05:12You know, it doesn't take rocket science, does it, to look at the top half of the Premier League,

05:17honing on the kind of promising young talents around the late teens, 20, 21,

05:22and how many championship clubs are going to be pushing for those.

05:26It's tough, isn't it?

05:29Do I see five loans?

05:30No, I don't think the squad needs that.

05:32But Mason has his Spurs links, doesn't he?

05:35There's been enough rumours of those around, and Spurs have young talent, don't they?

05:38I saw yesterday, I think Spurs defender Ash Phillips went back to Stoke for a second consecutive loan.

05:44He's a good young centre-half, played in the championship a bit.

05:48Obviously, it's maybe a sign that Spurs are starting to think about letting young players out.

05:52Maybe watch this space.

05:53Obviously, we'll get onto it, but links with a Liverpool midfielder.

05:58Yeah, I'd like to see, I really would.

06:01And not because I want a team full of loans, like I don't, you'd rather have your own.

06:04But I'd like to see a loan really come and make his mark for the season, to be honest,

06:08and fight it to be considered a first-team regular.

06:11And, yeah, Mikey Johnson did it a bit in his January loan, didn't he?

06:15Albeit only the second half of the season.

06:17I think it's going to be really important for this season,

06:18because I think the top half of the champ looks to me,

06:22I mean, you did a piece this week, didn't you, Johnny,

06:24about the odds for promotion and stuff like that.

06:26I've seen what the bookies are thinking.

06:28I think they'll read yesterday that Albin and ninth favourites to go up

06:34or to finish ninth or ninth favourites to win the title, maybe.

06:38And ninth is where they finished last season.

06:41It was a massive disappointment.

06:43But that just shows, doesn't it?

06:45You know, the bookies think eight teams above them.

06:48Blues were one of them, by the way.

06:49Wrexham were just below.

06:50So the might of teams coming up who were battling as well.

06:53Wrexham signed Lewis O'Brien, didn't they?

06:55Only today, yesterday.

06:56So, yeah, the depth of teams looking to snap up these top ones

07:04is ever increasing and Albin need to earn their corn in that department.

07:07I think, yeah, I envisage a couple of free loans, Johnny, I think.

07:13And they need to deliver because I think the squad, as it is, needs it, really.

07:21It's a few lights and the loans are going to help stack that up

07:24to what it needs, I would say.

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