Carlos Corberan: West Brom want to sign new forward after January transfer development
Carlos Corberan has confirmed West Brom are hoping to bring in multiple signings in the January transfer window following the exit of Jeremy Sarmiento.
Brighton and Hove Albion ended Sarmiento’s loan spell at The Hawthorns four months early, before swiftly sending the winger to Ipswich Town for the rest of the season.
Corberan was looking to strengthen even with Sarmiento in the squad, meaning a couple of players will now be targeted this month, including a new forward.
“We received the news that Sarmiento would be going back to Brighton as soon as possible and that’s what they have done,” Corberan said, as per the Birmingham Mail [4 January].
“Now, it’s the moment to be focused on ourselves. There are things in life that we cannot control. I cannot control what one team, or one player, wants to do, but as a club we can control that we are going to make our best to replace him.
“We are going to replace him and try to replace him making the most of our possibilities. Like we’ve said before, even before we knew that we would be without Sarmiento, we wanted to add minimum one player. Now, we’re going to add two.”
Good news
Managers are often quick to give non-answers when asked about transfer plans, but that is not the case with Corberan.
Albion clearly mean business this window, even if there are big question marks with regards to their finances due to the still-uncertain takeover situation.
Loan deals will likely be the order of the day, but that could mean waiting until the backend of the window for Premier League clubs to decide which players are surplus to requirements.
Corberan’s comments leave West Brom open to criticism if only one signing – or indeed none – are made between now and the end of the window.
The Spaniard certainly seems hopeful that will not be the case, though, and it may well be that an upgrade can be found on the inconsistent Sarmiento.
With our next league game at home to Blackburn Rovers still a little over a week away, fingers crossed at least one new player is brought in by then.
In other West Brom news, a Sky Sports host has explained why Albion will be “very happy” following their loss to Swansea City.