Tony Gale delivers verdict on Luke Dowling transfer business at West Brom
Tony Gale has praised West Brom technical director Luke Dowling for the job he has done at The Hawthorns since the end of last season.
Dowling and chief executive Mark Jenkins were widely criticised last term as the Baggies fell short in the race for promotion from the Championship but since then, you have to admit, they have done superbly well.
Slaven Bilic was hired as manager in the summer while there have also been some great additions to the squad in Semi Ajayi, Darnell Furlong, Romaine Sawyers, Matheus Pereira, Grady Diangana and Charlie Austin all being signed.
Former West Ham defender Gale has been really impressed by what he has seen from West Brom this season and fully expects Bilic to lead the Black Country club to promotion as Championship champions.
When asked if Bilic has surpassed expectations at West Brom, Gale said on Sky Sports News on Sunday [02:55pm]: “Yeah, I think so. [Julian] Dicks is down there with him as well and we’ve got to give a good mention to the director of football Luke Dowling.
“He’s done a really good job in his recruitment at the start of the season and worked with Slaven and got Slav in.
“I believe they’ve got champions written all over them.
“They’ve got that experience and more than anything, they’ve got the energy and Slav knows how to get people together like that.”
Bilic, Dowling and Jenkins did tremendously well in the summer transfer window.
Almost all of the players who were brought in have been brilliant – especially the signing of Matheus Pereira on a loan-to-buy deal from Sporting CP.
There have been a couple of concerning transfers.
Kenneth Zohore was the most expensive signing at £8million but has barely played for the Baggies and Chris Willock, on loan from Benfica, has not even made a matchday squad in the Championship.
However the positives massively outweigh the negatives and every fan should be pleased with the work that has been done behind the scenes since the end of last season.
In other West Brom news, Stoke are eyeing up this Albion attacker who could be on his way out in January.