Jenkins gives insight into transfer approach
THE early signs in the aftermath of West Brom’s January transfer window are promising.
Already, Slaven Bilic’s squad has a healthier look to it when it comes to strength in depth, something particularly evident at Millwall when he was able to call upon seasoned pros in Kamil Grosicki, Matt Phillips and Charlie Austin.
As one Millwall supporter pointed out post-match, they are names that would be among the first identified on any given team-sheet of any other given Championship side. That tells you how well-placed Albion are in terms of personnel.
Indeed, Bilic was bouncy on transfer deadline day, as he held his pre-Luton press conference and gushed about Grosicki and Callum Robinson, who had both come through the door.
It was a far cry from the downbeat, croaky Croat who had faced the press the previous Tuesday, after Albion’s second league defeat in a row at Cardiff. That was the impact the new signings had on Bilic, never mind the lift and extra competition it gave the existing players.
Lee Peltier arrived to act as cover, with Nathan Ferguson expected to move on, but both Robinson and Grosicki were names Albion had identified a long time prior to January and the opening of the window. Robinson was wanted last summer, before Sheffield United nabbed him, and only recently Poland international Grosicki claimed Bilic has wanted him for eight years, since Euro 2012.
There was a sizeable list of names, drawn up by Bilic, sporting and technical director Luke Dowling and the club’s scouting network, and the desired deals were eventually completed as a consequence.
“Ultimately, as the season goes on, we can all see where need to improve, position-wise,” Dowling explained. “When January approaches, if we can find someone to play up top who is different to what we have got, or get another wide player because of Grady (Diangana)’s injury, then we all recognise that is what the squad needs. “When it then comes to identifying those players, we have got an excellent scouting team in place .
“They watch games abroad, in this country, at different levels and when we put our lists together we present them to Slaven and go through them with him. Ultimately, if he doesn’t like one of them we would be stupid to keep pushing it because he picks the team. He will give some to us, players he recommends and has seen. And then, ultimately, we have to go and sign the one that is best for the club.
“Whether that is age, price range, wages – things like that. It’s not just me and Slaven locked up in a room, there are a lot of people involved. And then when we identify a player, it’s down to us to get the best deal for the club. “Look at the ones we did this window, Grosicki – £800,000 for 18 months. We looked at other players and we were quoted a £1 million loan fee – on top of their salary. That is where this window can be stupid.
“To get a player like Grosicki with his experience for that kind of money, we were pleased. Slaven doesn’t draw up his own list but he drops names in and tells us to have a look and see what our thoughts are. That is how it works.’’