West Brom technical director Luke Dowling has admitted that some players may leave the club during the summer transfer window, but says they will not overspend ahead of their return to the Premier League.
The Baggies are returning for their return to the top-flight of English football after sealing automatic promotion last week, and it is expected they will have to strengthen their side if they are to be competitive next season.
However, Dowling says that the club will not invest too heavily in their side as local rivals Aston Villa did following their promotion last summer.
Speaking about the club’s plans for the summer transfer window, Dowling was quoted by The Birmingham Mail as telling BT Sport: “I can say, unfortunately, that we won’t have the money that Villa have spent.
“We will spend more than what Norwich had to spend. We’ll look to be in the Sheffield United bracket. That doesn’t necessarily mean we finish where Sheffield United have finished – they’ve had a wonderful season.”
Discussing what that may mean for some of those players who are currently at The Hawthorns, Dowling continued: “One or two might leave this summer because that’s just how things work, but we must bring players in who have got value.
“They might not be those sexy names, we didn’t do that in the summer, but who can add something to the team.”
Is this the right approach from West Brom?YesNo |
This does seem to make sense for West Brom.
There are certainly areas that the club do need to strengthen in before the season begins again, but as Villa – and indeed Fulham the season before them – have shown, spending big immediately after promotion does not always equate to success in the Premier League.
On the flip side to that, not spending enough can have just the same sort of problems, as Norwich found to their detriment this season.
As a result, there may well have to be some players who are moved on from the club this summer, as is this the case after any season, and while it may be sad to see them go, you feel it will be in the best interests in the club, and their contribution over the course of the season just gone will always be remembered.
