West Brom managing director gives two-point transfer policy with ‘a lot happening behind the scenes’
West Brom managing director Mark Miles has revealed the club’s transfer strategy as they look to exploit the under-used loans market and free agent market to bolster Carlos Corberan’s team.
Despite an initially slow start to the window, there is an expectation that after the pre-season concludes, West Brom can access Premier League loans once top-flight sides have assessed their squads ahead of the start of the season.
Miles also noted the profile of player West Brom desire and is confident in preparing Corberan for a tough promotion bid next season.
Speaking to Birmingham Live, Miles said: “The players Carlos is looking for, those younger, hungrier players, probably won’t become available until later in the window.
“Premier League clubs are only just reporting back, and Carlos has done the same here. Managers want to cast their eye over what they’ve got before they determine who goes out on loan and who doesn’t.
“It will be towards the end of July and the start of August before those kind of players become available. I think the market is very quiet at the moment.
“It almost needs a domino effect, some things to start happening with players to ripple its way through. There’s not a lot happening at the moment but a lot happening behind the scenes.”
Slow and steady
West Brom are on a tight budget this window and will have to be shrewd in the market if they are to form a solid promotion-pushing side.
The loan market can reap great benefits for Championship sides, with West Brom being no strangers to a Premier League loan as it emerged on Tuesday (11 July) that the Baggies attempted to secure Leeds talent Darko Gyabi on loan in January last season [The Athletic].
They look to continue this loan strategy, which Miles claimed West Brom “haven’t exploited” enough.
But while Baggies fans may have feared that West Brom’s inactivity so far was a sign of a lack of movement, but these comments show that plenty is happening behind the scenes at the Hawthorns.
Meanwhile, the club also aim to use the free agent market to grow their squad. So far this has not paid dividends following Nick Powell’s rejection of the Baggies, as well as Coventry City, to join Stockport County [Football League World].
However, Baggies fans will be relieved to hear that plans are in place for their transfer window, and perhaps some fresh and quality signings will help the club get back around the promotion places.