West Brom boss Steve Bruce confirms club are looking for midfield recruits
West Brom manager Steve Bruce has told the Express & Star that the club are looking to strengthen their midfield this summer.
The Baggies have been heavily linked with Leicester City star Hamza Choudhury this summer but talk of a move has gone quiet.
Following Albion’s pre-season defeat to League Two side Stevenage on Saturday, Bruce confirmed to the Express & Star that Albion were still looking for a new midfielder as he felt they are short in that area.
“I think that’s where we’re short – midfield players,” he said.
“Jake Livermore, who I’ve left alone at Stevenage, he’ll come into the reckoning on Wednesday, and then we’ve got (Jayson) Molumby and (Alex) Mowat – Mowatt had an operation recently too.”
During the defeat to Stevenage, Albion played Callum Robinson and Adam Reach in midfield despite the pair both being wingers.
How do Albion respond
Bruce is right in saying that Albion are short in midfield, but they could do with hurrying up bringing one in.
The season starts in less than three weeks and Albion have a difficult start, facing Middlesbrough, Watford, Cardiff City and Huddersfield Town before the end of August.
If a deal for Choudhury cannot be struck, then Bruce should move on and find somebody else.
Options will be out there, most likely on the loan market as Bruce told the Birmingham Mail last week, but they cannot stay held up on Choudhury for much longer.
Albion have been credited with an interest in Newcastle United starlet Elliot Anderson, with The Northern Echo reporting in June that the club “made contact” with Newcastle for the youngster.
Bruce is familiar with Anderson’s talents from his time on Tyneside, so he could be the man to draft in and strengthen Albion’s midfield.
However, the report also stated that Eddie Howe wants to give Anderson a chance in preseason so Bruce could be forced to wait.
Regardless, Bruce needs to hurry up with his midfielder search so the club are not left short at the start of the season.
In other West Brom news, Callum Robinson’s move to Preston is being held up as Albion are demanding a fee.