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.
With the window opening in a few weeks time, Lewis looks at where Albion could strengthen first and how many signings they could make.
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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.