West Brom transfer news as striker deal wanted at The Hawthorns
West Brom are in the market for a striker this summer having kick-started their transfer business with the signing of Jeremy Sarmiento, according to the Express & Star.
The Baggies announced the arrival of the Brighton and Hove Albion winger on a season-long loan deal on Tuesday (July 25), marking their first foray into the market this window.
The Baggies’ well-documented financial issues off the pitch mean boss Carlos Corberan will likely be dealing in the free transfer and loan market this summer.
One area the Spaniard is looking to upgrade is a strike force that has already been weakened with Karlan Grant having joined Cardiff City on loan for the upcoming season. With Daryl Dike having struggled with injuries, new additions up top would be a welcome boost.
Discussing the state of the Baggies squad following the signing of Sarmiento, Jonny Drury wrote: “The Brighton winger’s arrival was met with delight by Albion fans, who have been anxiously waiting for signings amid off-field financial concerns.
“Fans wants to see a number of other new faces arrive at the club, with the club understood to be in the market for a striker.”
Loanees could be the fit
West Brom could certainly do with an injection of goals in their squad. They registered 59 in the Championship last term, with Dike and Brandon Thomas-Asante their joint-top league scorers on seven.
Of course, the issue is that strikers are often the hardest players to find and forwards who have excellent records tend to come with a hugely inflated transfer fee – especially at this level.
It means Corberan will have to box clever as he attempts to boost his forward line and one thing that may play into their favour is that the loan market tends to heat up as pre-season draws to a close as Premier League managers have finished running the rule over who will be in their first-team squads and who could gain from regular first-team football.
There have been countless young strikers in the past who have dropped into England’s second tier, managing to simultaneously boost their own careers and provide the all-important goals to aid their loan side’s cause.
If the Baggies are also able to get Dike fit consistently this season then he has the potential to be a 20-goal-a-season forward, as demonstrated by his loan spell with Barnsley where he found the net nine times in 22 matches.
But depth is a necessity for success in the Championship and it will be interesting to see who the Baggies move for in the coming weeks.
In other West Brom news, a potential move for Jack Colback could see the Baggies find the perfect Jake Livermore replacement