Sky Sports: Player set to train with new team-mates today after West Brom medical passed
Branislav Ivanovic has passed a medical to join West Brom on a free transfer and is set to train with his new team-mates today (Monday), according to Sky Sports.
The broadcaster reported via their live transfer blog on Monday [10:44am] that the 36-year-old free agent has agreed terms to join the Baggies and Slaven Bilic expects his transfer to be completed in time for training in the afternoon.
Ivanovic was released by Zenit St Petersburg at the end of last season after captaining them to the Russian Premier League title and the ex-Chelsea defender is seen as a new addition at centre-back by West Brom despite his ability to also play at right-back.
Speaking after the 3-0 defeat to Leicester on Sunday, Bilic confirmed that he expects Ivanovic’s transfer to be made official by the end of play on Monday so Albion fans can expect the club to release a statement very soon.
It was evident in the heavy opening day loss to the Foxes that West Brom’s defence could do with upgrading before the transfer window closes next month.
While Ivanovic is 36 and is hardly the player he once was at Chelsea, he is a leader and someone with vast experience of playing in the Premier League.
Albion have had defenders like that who’ve arrived in the past like Joleon Lescott and Gareth McAuley, both with varying results as to how they’ve performed.
But there is a leadership deficiency in the Baggies’ back-line at the moment and we hope that Ivanovic can cure that.
He’s not the most mobile of defenders any more but Semi Ajayi’s pace and athleticism could mean he’s the perfect centre-back partner for the ex-Serbia international.
In other West Brom news, Bilic made an admission about Filip Krovinovic’s potential return to The Hawthorns after the defeat to Leicester.
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