Chris Baird is the latest free-agent player to be linked with West Bromwich Albion, with a deal seemingly very close to completion. The deal is expected to be a one year deal with the option for a second year being dependant on the utility man meeting certain appearance-related criteria.
Baird, released by promoted Burnley following the completion of another short-term deal at Reading last season, is equally comfortable at right back or centre back, as well as being able to operate in a defensive midfield position and has long been on Albion’s transfer radar.
At 32 years old and with his career in decline – Baird hasn’t made 20 league appearances in a season since 2010/11 – it is surprising that he has been offered a chance at The Hawthorns at this stage. West Brom remain in the hunt for a first choice right back however so his signing should at the very least offer useful cover in a number of positions, whilst also ruling out the need to utilise fellow new-boy Craig Gardner at right back. If Baird can also steer clear of the injuries that hampered Steven Reid during his time in the Black Country this signing, though another uninspiring and underwhelming move, could prove to be a sensible addition.
Pre-season tests have been undertaken and first team training will be getting underway tomorrow so Baird’s addition could not be better timed as without him on the pitch, Alan Irvine would have been left shuffling his pack from day one which would have been far from ideal. This low-cost, not to mention low-key, move at least affords Irvine the ability to assess his squad with a seasoned professional in a position that he is familiar with.
Next on the immediate agenda should be sourcing genuine right and left backs of starting quality at Premier League level before then shifting all attention to the attacking third of the pitch and filling the glaring holes there. Some interesting moves have been made around Europe for attacking talent and Albion fans will be hoping to hear of further talks for Monaco’s Emmanuel Riviere, which would appear to have cooled of late. Signing a player of that ilk, as opposed to a journeyman at the end of his career would give Albion fans – as well as the rest of the squad – a real boost.
Gornik Zabrze’s out-of-contract winger Prejuce Nakoulma from Burkina Faso is another transfer target who is said to be nearing completion following talks with West Brom’s hierarchy this week. Fast and powerful, he would add another layer to an extremely threadbare collection of attacking players on Albion’s books, though doubts have been raised about his ability to shine in what would be a completely different level of competition to that which he has been used to playing in Poland’s Ekstraklasa.
Leaving attacking signatures until the last minute last summer did not work out well at all so the hope will be that the club doesn’t end up repeating the overpriced midnight trolley-dash this August-end. Winnable matches litter the opening months of the fixture list, so having a cohesive team to attack from day one would make for a pleasant change.
Much like you though, I won’t be holding my breath.
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