Exclusive: West Brom tipped to raise eyebrows in January after PL player links emerge
We’re delighted to welcome former West Brom striker Kevin Phillips as our exclusive columnist. Each week he’ll be giving his views on the biggest talking points at The Hawthorns…
Kevin Phillips claims West Brom will raise some eyebrows in the January transfer window after hiring Sam Allardyce as their new manager.
Allardyce replaced Slaven Bilic in charge at The Hawthorns on Wednesday and, as reported by Football Insider, the Dudley-born boss has already set his sights on signing centre-back James Tomkins from Crystal Palace.
Tomkins, 31, played for Allardyce at both West Ham and Palace but has failed to play a single minute for the Eagles this season.
Phillips believes Allardyce will target a number of players he’s already familiar with when the January transfer window opens but claims the defence will be Big Sam’s main priority.
“I think he will be bringing in players he’s worked with, he knows, he can trust,” Phillips told West Brom News.
When discussing Tomkins, Phillips added: “That’s an area I think he’ll definitely look at. On the [JOE] podcast with Joe Cole, he said he assumed Sam would go in and just work with the defenders straight away and set a base. We defend first and then we attack.
“It will be an area he’ll work with and will look at to strengthen in the January window.
“There could be the odd names in there that surprises a few people but he’ll definitely go into the transfer market, without a shadow of a doubt.”
Tomkins isn’t a name that will surprise West Brom fans.
As mentioned, he’s worked with Allardyce previously and has bags of Premier League experience with 263 top-flight appearances to his name from spells at both West Ham and Crystal Palace.
The former England Under-21 centre-back is also out of the picture at Selhurst Park so could be easier to sign from former Baggies boss Roy Hodgson.
West Brom’s defence has leaked goals this season.
According to stats by FBRef, no team has conceded more than the Baggies in the Premier League [26] and their xGA is also the highest at 23.9.
Sam Johnstone, Semi Ajayi and Dara O’Shea put in incredible shifts to earn a 1-1 draw at Manchester City on Tuesday night so there are clearly players there at the club for Allardyce to work on.
But a proven Premier League performer like Tomkins would go down a treat with Kyle Bartley and Branislav Ivanovic worrying fans with their recent performances.
In other West Brom news, Jonathan Greening has blasted the club for sacking Bilic and has made a claim about Tony Pulis.
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