Transfer headache for Albion's Di Matteo
By Jemma Tappenden
August 2 2010
West Bromwich Albion gaffer Roberto Di Matteo admitted last night that the summer tansfer window has provided him with something of a headache this year. The popular manager hit the big time with West Brom during his first full managerial season at the Hawthorns, taking the Baggies straight back to the top flight. But now Di Matteo fears that his squad is too small.
With the start of the season looming Albion have secured just four summer signings, with one of those being the permanent signing of last season's loanee Gabriel Tamas from Auxerre. Other players in include Steven Reid from Blackburn, Pablo Ibanez from Athletico Madrid and Boaz Myhill from Hull City. In total some where in the region of £2.5 - £3 million has been spent on strengthening the squad for the Premiership season.
But manager Roberto Di Matteo fears that his squad is as of yet still too small to mount a serious Premiership campaign, with a number of players either being released or allowed to leave the Hawthorns on loan. Loan agreements have been made over Marcus Haber, young goal keeper Luke Daniels and record signing Borja Valero, whilst Filipe Teixeira and Robert Koren have been allowed to leave the club all together.
The Baggies prepare to take on Chelsea in the Premier League's opening weekend on 14th August, and fans will be hoping to see an influx of new faces before then. But Di Matteo told a local newspaper "I wish I could say we have someone coming in but we are working on trying to strengthen our squad, we know we're low on numbers. We want to bring in players who can help us during the season".
Albion have been linked with a number of summer signings, but have struggled to secure known or rumoured targets. Fellow promoted side Blackpool have also struggled in the summer transfer market, having secured no signings at all as of yet.