‘I won’t name the players but…’ – Big Sam shares West Brom transfer update for Jan
Sam Allardyce has admitted that the new Brexit terms have disrupted West Brom’s January transfer plans, as he bids to boost his Premier League strugglers.
After losing three of his first four games in charge of the Baggies, picking up a solitary point against Liverpool on December 27, Allardyce is desperately short of quality in his ranks.
The opening of the January transfer window would have been a welcome sight for Big Sam, but it appears the restrictions that Brexit has placed on transfers is hampering his ability to find suitable players.
The withdrawal of the UK from the European Union on December 31 meant that the Premier League entered a new transfer system where clubs would not be able to sign EU players as freely as before.
In his post-match press conference following Saturday’s defeat to Arsenal, Allardyce spoke on the difficulties he is facing, as reported by Sky Sports, “I found three players already who were capable of coming here and they’re not allowed. It’s a shame, I won’t name the players, but they would have been a big help.
“But due to the regulations in terms of the permit, they were unable to come to this country whereas before, they would have. I have to look at that everywhere I can now to think ‘can he qualify?’, so it has made life a little bit more difficult.”
Goals are at the top of Allardyce’s wish list
News of Allardyce’s struggles in the transfer department are sure to cause further concern for Baggies fans as their Premier League survival hopes begin to take a big dent with repeated thrashings.
One area Allardyce will be looking to strengthen in is the attacking department, with Saturday’s blank against Arsenal the third in their last four games, and ninth of the Premier League season.
Their top Premier League goal scorers are Callum Robinson and Conor Gallagher with two apiece. Robinson’s goals came in a 3-3 draw against Chelsea, way back on September 26.
Karlan Grant has been shouldering much of the attacking responsibility for Albion this season, but he has only notched a single goal this campaign.
Every other Premier League side has a player who has scored at least three times, so this is clearly a problem area for Allardyce, one he cannot ignore despite their obvious issues at the other end of the pitch.
As he alluded to in his press conference, Allardyce is going to have to be savvy in his attempts to bring in transfer targets in January.
In other West Brom news, see our exclusive with Kevin Phillips on the Baggies transfer plans.
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