Guochuan Lai: Signings of John Swift and Jed Wallace give West Brom added quality
Majority West Brom shareholder Guochuan Lai believes the additions of John Swift and Jed Wallace will provide the Baggies with the quality needed to compete for promotion.
Steve Bruce has instigated a fast start in the transfer market for the Baggies with the two much sought-after free agents coming through The Hawthorns’ front door.
Lai believes the acquisitions of Swift and Wallace are the start of a period of change at West Brom.
Writing in an official club statement on Thursday 30 June, as the Baggies released their 2020/21 accounts, Lai said: “I believe we have made positive progress in recent months and the appointment of Ron Gourlay as Chief Executive Officer in February has already strengthened the football club.
“The early acquisitions of John Swift and Jed Wallace provide us with added quality as the club continues to embrace a period of positive change.
“I remain committed to returning the football club to the Premier League and I am confident we will be able to compete for promotion from the Championship this coming season.”
It must continue
It is all well and good making two excellent signings at the start of the window, but the Baggies must continue their good early work in the transfer window.
If the season started tomorrow the Baggies would be better off, but would they challenge for promotion, probably not.
Lai must continue to back the West Brom boss after his appointment in the second half of last season.
Bruce has clearly been supported financially in order to bring Wallace and Swift to The Hawthorns and now the Baggies boss must ensure that he moves players out of the club to free up wages for more new arrivals.
West Brom have adequately eased some of their attacking issues with the addition of the two creative midfielders but another striker would not go a miss with the Baggies lacking a clinical goalscorer to rival Karlan Grant.
If Lai remains committed to fore filling the Baggies Premier League dream then he simply has to back Bruce by potentially paying a transfer fee, rather than just looking at the free agent market.
In other West Brom news, Albion are also in advanced talks to sign another new player at The Hawthorns this summer.
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