View: West Brom must heed Graeme Souness criticism of local rivals Aston Villa this summer
If West Brom secure promotion in the coming weeks, they will face a big decision.
Do they go for broke in the transfer market in an attempt to buy their way up the Premier League table next term, or do they trust in what they already have, keep spending to a minimum, and do their best work on the training ground this summer?
It’s a conundrum that all newly-promoted sides – suddenly flush with TV rights money – have to face, and we have seen the two distinct blueprints put into practice to varying degrees of success by Aston Villa and Sheffield United this season.
For their part, the Blades spent around £42.5 million last summer – not an inconsiderable amount of money, but certainly not a fortune in today’s market.
They are currently seventh with a game in hand that could take them up to fifth if they pick up the win.
By contrast, Aston Villa had a net spend of £142 million in preseason bringing in a whole roster of players who have enjoyed mixed results at Villa Park.
Despite that massive outlay, they are currently 19th, two points of safety with 10 to play.
And it’s a point that isn’t lost on Graeme Souness either.
Writing in his column for The Sunday Times, he said: “Their £142million net spend last summer was the largest in England and second only to Real Madrid’s £153million in Europe.
“They’re the biggest club in the second-biggest city in the country, but it hasn’t happened for them. They’re a yo-yo side.
“Did they end up signing the second or third choices on their list? That’s always dangerous… you must hold your nerve and wait until the right players are available rather than signing people for the sake of it.”
Given a choice between the two, you would hope that West Brom follow Sheffield United’s lead over their local rivals’.
With potential permanent moves for Matheus Pereira, Filip Krovinovic, and Callum Robinson already on the cards, plus an assertion from The Athletic that our spending will be “modest” by Premier League standards, it does look as if Baggies chiefs will choose to exercise some caution in the transfer market.
And while it might not get pulses racing in the same way that a big summer splurge would, it’s the right thing to do.
We know better than most clubs what it’s like to bounce between the top two divisions of English football, but the reason that we are so well-equipped to challenge for promotion whenever we do suffer relegation is because the club never overstretches itself in the boardroom.
Changing that habit now simply wouldn’t be worth the gamble.
West Brom should heed Souness’ warning to Villa and keep their heads when the window opens.
Thankfully, it sounds as if Albion chiefs plan on doing exactly that already.
In other West Brom news, has this Baggies youngster staked a claim for an extended role after impressive cameo v Man United?
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