[Baggie_One]

a fair bit of gossip from the BBC today...........

West Brom have not yet made a bid for Aston Villa defender Ciaran Clark, 26, who has a £5m release clause in his contract. (Birmingham Mail)

Sunderland face missing out on Benjamin Moukandjo, 27, after West Brom joined the race for the Lorient striker. (The Chronicle)

West Brom are preparing a second bid for Leicester City's Jeffrey Schlupp, 23, after the Foxes rejected an offer of £9m. (Leicester Mercury)

[Worldclassalbion]

I can see this being another farce which has been the NORM since Dan Ashworth departed for the last 3 seasons. Another potential buy out which is allegedly holding up any transfers, days upon days of Albion being linked to the same players and NOTHING happens. We have been going back in for Schlupp for the last week after £9m was rebuffed and still nothing.

Stoke have apparently offered £17m plus £3m in add ons for the Fat Man and Albion do nothing until we have signed a replacement...........HE DOESN'T WANT TO STAY!!!! so lets get rid and get on with signing players.

Oh No hang on because we can't sign anyone until we get a new buyer and replace the Brat.......................what a Shambles (as usual)

JP either needs to sell the club or crack on asap because we will end up with last minute buys again like the Biscuit man Anichebe.

I am still trying to keep the faith and trawl all through the gossip columns and Transfer talks every day in the hope of hearing something positive or new but same old dross. I would like a job at the Albion recrutement team because it would appear you don't have to do a lot.

I know I sound negative guys but its the same old same old. A bit of excitement would be nice for a change.

[talkSAFT]

Trouble is, Worldclass, that everyone involved will leave the middling* activity until the very last minute, when Clubs literally get desperate......
Agents will be telling their "clients" that Albion are interested, and then tell them they "might do better - no rush. Leave it till August 31st and get an extra £100k". Same every "Window".
[* ie lower Prem]

WHAT'S THE POINT OF THE WINDOW? It was no doubt a good idea 10-20 years ago, to stem inflation, but inflation's gone up about 100% since the new TV deal. (Schlupp would have been 1/2 that value last year, taking account of his form this Season).

[4evaabaggie]

World-class, good post, I think a lot of people feel the same. Would not call it negative just a reflection of our poor transfer Windows of recent years. For which recent managers have received a lot of unfair stick (Pulis especially). If Mercedes were to build Hamilton a Mini Metro he might struggle to get the performances his fans demand, you need the tools to do the job. Get on with it, buy what we need not what is left. JP, you have done an amazing job, thanks for the last 14 years, I know your trying to safeguard the future ........ but if your selling please speed it up, let's get on, no future without new, younger players, the kids are doing good but we need experienced players now (not 30+ but 24-27 first teamers at a decent level) to help bring them on

[Stairs]

You're damned if you do and you're damned if you don't. I am equally frustrated by the lack of transactions but I am happy with the transfers to which we are linked.

If we sold Berahino (and I really hope we do soon) then it tells all clubs that we are now desperate for a replacement and the buying price goes up. Add to that if we then failed in a series of attempts to buy a striker the media and the fans would rip into the club for being unprofessional and naive in its transfer dealings.

Suggestions are that the 'new owners' (if it happens) sanction the bid for Schlupp and so if the player fits the requirement spec it seems that the delay in selling the club is not blocking our activity.

As always the transfer window does not get going until we enter August and as always West Brom like many clubs need others to line up their new players before being prepared to sell their squad players to other clubs.

Patience as ever is a virtue - I am at the moment reasonably positive about where we might be come the end of the window.

[Stairs]

Leonardo Ulloa wants to leave Premier League champions Leicester City following tension at the club, according to Sky sources.

Swansea (I also thought West Brom) and a number of Spanish clubs are said to be interested in him, but it’s more likely he will remain in England.

Leicester aren’t willing to improving his contract and with new strikers have coming in, means he may fall down the pecking order.

[Salopbaggie]

You're damned if you do and you're damned if you don't. I am equally frustrated by the lack of transactions but I am happy with the transfers to which we are linked.

If we sold Berahino (and I really hope we do soon) then it tells all clubs that we are now desperate for a replacement and the buying price goes up. Add to that if we then failed in a series of attempts to buy a striker the media and the fans would rip into the club for being unprofessional and naive in its transfer dealings.

Suggestions are that the 'new owners' (if it happens) sanction the bid for Schlupp and so if the player fits the requirement spec it seems that the delay in selling the club is not blocking our activity.

As always the transfer window does not get going until we enter August and as always West Brom like many clubs need others to line up their new players before being prepared to sell their squad players to other clubs.

Patience as ever is a virtue - I am at the moment reasonably positive about where we might be come the end of the window.

Sounds about right Stairs, I do have a little niggle that as things move on that we are going to agree a deal for Sakho, sell Berahino and just replace one moody player for another. The fact that he refused to go on pre-season should ring warning bells, if, for nothing else than how fit will he be. I do have a feeling though that if TP drops him for tactical reasons though he will start moaning.

[Dingle-Dingle]

Look away now JP. We don`t want you crying..........

Chelsea are considering making a bid of around £50m to re-sign striker Romelu Lukaku, 23, from Everton. The Toffees value the Belgium forward at £65m. (Liverpool Echo)

DD

[BaggieMan]

Look away now JP. We don`t want you crying..........

Chelsea are considering making a bid of around £50m to re-sign striker Romelu Lukaku, 23, from Everton. The Toffees value the Belgium forward at £65m. (Liverpool Echo)

DD    

I always thought that when Everton signed him from Chelsea for £20m plus, JP should have taken a 'punt' on Lukaku as it seemed obvious to me that his value was going to dramatically increase but no, JP prefers dealing in the 'Bargain Basement'

[4evaabaggie]

Baggieman, a little harsh ...... how many other clubs our size or slightly bigger, bigger fanbases, more finances, tried to buy him, can't think of any. How hard did JP try, we do not will not know, with the greatest will in the world, what can we offer players who want to go somewhere, no major trophy for 48 years, yes we have had a few near misses, 78, 82 in both cups, 98 cheated by Baros, no European football since the 70's, no sustained top half challenge, still rebuilding after 16 years out of the limelight. We love our club but what about the nuetral, who outside of GB have heard of West Bromwich Albion. It's not always as easy as playing fifa, not dissing you or your view, you may well be right but on the balance, why would he commit to three four years of mid table mediocrity when a regular top ten Everton side come in. Besides football outside of London, the Northwest and Newcastle doesn't exist.

We could have offered a holiday barge on the grand union at Tipton ....... just a thought. (Does the grand union go thorought tipton, excuse my lack of canal knowledge)