Time to map out a plan for Villa's future
- Says blogger Matthew Turvey
Albion switch focus to loan market
Tuesday 2nd February 2010, 10:14AM GMT.
Albion have turned their attentions to the emergency loan market after the transfer window passed with just one last-day arrival at the Hawthorns.
The Baggies landed their top target when Holland international Andwelle Slory signed from Feyenoord yesterday, but the final hours of the window only saw departures from the Hawthorns.
Shelton Martis ended his time in the Midlands by joining Championship rivals Doncaster on a permanent deal while Filipe Teixeira moved to Barnsley, initially for a month on loan.
But Albion will continue keeping tabs on potential loan targets and will use the short-term market to top up Roberto Di Matteo’s squad if they suffer injuries, suspensions or players losing form.
Loans are available from next Tuesday until the final week in March, with reserve and youth players from Premier League clubs the most likely arrivals.
Both Martis and Leon Barnett are now ruled out of the second-half of the Baggies’ season, after Martis agreed a three-and-a-half-year deal at the Keepmoat Stadium and Barnett extended his loan at Coventry for the rest of the campaign with no recall clause.
But Teixeira could still return, with his move to Oakwell initially taking him only until the end of February.
However, Tykes boss Mark Robins is already looking at the possibility of a longer deal.
He said: “Filipe is technically a top, top player. He is a playmaker who was instrumental in helping West Brom win promotion a couple of seasons ago. He will come here initially for a month but his contract is up at the end of the season and will give both parties the chance to have a much closer look at each other.
“Filipe needs to play games and if we can get him playing to the top of his ability then he will be a very, very good addition to our squad and will benefit us greatly.”
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