Transfer buzzkill: Fan frustration at long, slow summer

Wolves, Albion and Walsall have signed just six first-team players between them at an outlay of around just £4m.

With the season starting in just 11 days time, fans are growing restless.

At Molineux the faithful are increasingly concerned at a lack of transfer activity.

Bakary Sako's departure was expected to yield a big-money replacement.

Chief executive Jez Moxey stated in May: "We bought Bakary Sako for £2.5m and he's running out of contract so we have to replace him.

"Now to do that, inevitably, we're going to have to spend money on buying players.

"That's the gig and our owner understands that. It comes at a price, but we're willing to do that."

Jed Wallace and Conor Coady are promising additions to Wolves' midfield.

But with the striking department looking thin, no Sako replacement forthcoming and no goalkeeper to succeed Tomasz Kuszczak, Wolves are in danger of leaving it a little too late to get their business completed before that trip to Blackburn on August 8.

Albion supporters are, meanwhile, hoping this is the week speculation and rumour become fact as head coach Tony Pulis looks to belatedly kick-off a summer spending spree.

To this point, other than the lone pick-up of James McClean from Wigan, it has been a tale of frustration, with more often than not the Baggies finding their attempts to strengthen mired in stalemate.

Talks to prise Matt Phillips away from QPR have not progressed for weeks while a move for Nottingham Forest's Michail Antonio was also rebuffed.

Signing Sako might solve Pulis' worries out wide while Rickie Lambert would likely prove a shrewd addition up front. Offering Abou Diaby a route back to the Premier League, should he sign, could be a stroke of genius.

But after weeks of hope fans now need to see some solid progress in the market.

Over at Walsall, it was always going to be a case of evolution rather than revolution this summer.

While many supporters were calling for six or seven signings to bolster Saddlers' squad, boss Dean Smith made it clear early on there would be just a few changes, albeit in key areas.

The decision of Richard O'Donnell, last season's player of the year, to move closer to home and to title favourites Wigan came as a huge blow.

The promising Neil Etheridge has been added to the ranks to compete with Craig McGillivray for the goalkeeping jersey. Other additions have been more in keeping with Smith's promise to fine tune a squad he believes is much better that last season's 14th place finish.

Right-back Jason Demetriou will provide a more attacking threat, while the return of Milan Lalkovic will add an element of spark and uncertainly to Walsall's play.

The manager is also actively seeking a commanding centre-half following the surprise decision of James Chambers to hang up his boots, despite the offer of a one-year contract on the table.

But it's at least two more players, alongside a defender, that the fans truly crave.

The preference is a midfielder to provide genuine competition for Sam Mantom and Adam Chambers. There are also calls for a striker to cover for Tom Bradshaw.

But Smith will always turn to Saddlers' youth prospects before making a move for either a permanent or loan signing. For that reason, it would be wise to expect a centre-back will be the only further addition to the squad before the season kicks off on August 8.