One new signing only for Albion

Wednesday 22nd December 2010, 10:57AM GMT.

One new signing only for Albion

Albion boss Roberto Di Matteo will target just one new player in the January transfer window.

The head coach wants to add a striker to his squad but he revealed today that a new striker is likely to be the only mid-season recruit.

And Di Matteo revealed he must offload players to raise money for the new face, although anyone leaving the Hawthorns is likely to come from the group already out on loan.

He said: “We talk all the time but, if you look historically, you shouldn’t expect much from us in January.

“If I can I would like to bring in one player to improve the squad, but if I can’t I am not going to just bring two or three players in for the sake of it.”

Di Matteo confirmed last week that a forward is his January priority and he reiterated today that any new addition to his squad next month is likely to be as a striker, who has made an impressive start to life in England but has been hampered by a series of injuries.

However, despite reports elsewhere, Celtic forward Georgios Samaras is not a January target.

The Express & Star also understands Real Mallorca hitman Pierre Webo is also unlikely to arrive. He has been monitored by the Baggies but is not believed to be a primary target.

Albion will consider all types of transfers but the domestic loans market is the most likely sources of new faces, with Di Matteo keen to recruit a forward with previous experience of the English game.

The head coach must manage his budget to allow January arrivals but none of his key first team players are up for grabs.

Norwich have already agreed a deal to turn Leon Barnett’s loan into a permanent move for small, undisclosed fee while Luke Moore looks set to extend his loan at Derby for the rest of the season, freeing up a significant amount of cash on the wage bill.

Gianni Zuiverloon and Chris Wood have also expressed their desire to stay on loan at Ipswich and Brighton respectively.

Di Matteo said: “I think we have an interest for a couple of our players, but who knows?”


  1. 1
    Pete

    I could always chuck in me 50p vouchers for Tesco’s

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  2. 2
    Baggie9

    The club’s doing well,we don’t need any panic buys.THE FUTURE’S BRIGHT ITS BLUE AND WHITE,MIDLANDS TOP CLUB.

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  3. 3
    The REAL Baggie Boy

    1…Another 9.50 worth and you could have purchashed your club

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  4. 4
    john waynes saddle bag

    ONE!!!!! DONT YOU MEAN 21 MY PIPEWORK HAS FROZEN UP WHO CAN I CALL ?????????

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  5. 5
    The Real Bully Hoo.

    3 RBB.
    I doubt you’d still need that much.

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  6. 6
    hailpantani

    Nice one the Real Baggie Boy!! Here’s to a QUALITY forward coming in January to send us whizzing up the table!! :-))

    Report abuse

  7. 7
    jordao1-0

    pete.. split my sides laughing my friend. good name though, reminds me of our saint peter, who cost a fraction of the amount the wolves paid for their world class partnership upfront. currently the best striker in the midlands (on form rate) so far, and he.s missed most of the games. well done pete, just reminding us baggies how fortunate we are. by the way, i’d like your 50p voucher, every little helps. forza albion (top midland team for xmas) ain’t life grand.

    Report abuse

  8. 8
    alex baggie

    I think one more is sufficient. But please no pre-madonna. We need someone who can mix it at the top level and with prem experience. The Yak might be a good punt.

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  9. 9
    mancbaggie

    Ive said previously – how about Bendtnar from Arsenal? He wants regular 1st team football and our game would suit him.

    Report abuse

  10. 10
    Warren

    Alex

    If they’re older than Madonna, we don’t want them…….

    Report abuse

  11. 11
    beevower

    9. mancbaggie

    I agree with Bendtner – think he would be excellent but there is no chance we’d sign him – too high a wages to start with.

    Report abuse

  12. 12
    JACK the HAT.

    Blimey Roberto, how did you manage to get Jeremy to buy a player in the January window, as it’s against his religion. Now that IS moving forward.

    BOING~~~~BOING~~~~JtH.

    Report abuse

  13. 13
    alfred miller

    plenty of good strikers in the bundesliga

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  14. 14
    We only need one half!

    “I am not going to just bring two or three players in for the sake of it”

    umm? your starter for 10, how desperate would a manager, of a crap football team, have to be to do that?

    answers on a postcard (no prizes though, to easy!)

    Report abuse

  15. 15
    Cyril Randle

    Alex8. Aer kid, yow mean ‘Prima Donna’. It’s Italian opera fer ‘Fust Lady’, yow know the lead wench who squales lahdest!
    And for an old gentleman not having knowledge of modern speak, what or who the heck is
    “The Yak might be a good punt”.
    I caught my breath a bit when I read that!

    Report abuse

  16. 16
    The only fellow

    Only 1 signing eh ? This is why you will fall like a stone along with Blackpool. No money you see. The premier league should set some kind of critria for clubs that cant afford to belong to it. I hope mick dont squander our £20Million come january. Oh well, suppose we must all cut our cloth according nowerdays

    Report abuse

  17. 17
    The Real Bully Hoo.

    10 Warren.
    Steady there, you could be in for a telling off.

    14 WONOH.
    I’m lovin it!

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  18. 18
    albionkev

    The one we need 2 sign is Roberto Di Matteo
    how about it Jeremy and give him agood wage and a long contract.

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  19. 19
    shifnal02

    LET ROBERTO WORK HIS MAGIC-AND FIND A CRISTMAS CRACKER AGAIN,THIS MANAGER IS A TURE FIND,THE ALBION PLAY LIKE HE USE TO COOL CALM AND PASSION-THIS MAN HAS CHANGED THE WAY THE FOOTBALL WORLD LOOKS AT US NOW,JUST GIVE ROBERTO THE TIME HE NEEDS TO MAKE US A GREAT CLUB AGAIN.SHIFNAL BAGGIE.

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  20. 20
    CantelloRocket 78

    Maybe it’s me,but the story looks a bit misleading.The headline says RDM will ONLY make one signing,but he doesn’t actually SAY that.He says ‘historically,you shouldn’t expect too much in January’ and ‘I would like to bring in one player to improve the squad’,but where does it say he will DEFINITELY make only one signing? If we get the chance to add two or three players that the club have been watching,and would REALLY like to sign,will they say ‘we only want one for now,so we won’t bother with the others’? And as for raising money by offloading current players on loan,aren’t we in line to get around 5 mil. for Valero? With a month’s transfer activity ahead,surely it’s a bit premature to take anything for granted.

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  21. 21
    astleistheking

    Thank goodness Samaras is out of the picture. I thought we were supposed to be monitoring Jimmy Bullard and Sidwell? anyway will be interesting to see if they can unearth another gem like St Pete.

    I’m kinda glad we are shaving the squad of fringe players. I personally Still think Cox should be given a run to prove his worth, I think he could get 6-7 goals in the 2nd half of the season which is a good start.

    Report abuse

  22. 22
    The Real Bully Hoo.

    16.
    I read your post and thought you sounded like a glory hunter but if you are you’ve exhibited all the skill of Elmer Fudd.

    Have a look at post 14, he’s summed it up just about perfectly.

    Report abuse

  23. 23
    The Real Bully Hoo.

    20 CR78.
    I think you’re right. He’s talking about one player that could go straight into the first team if needed. I’m sure we’ll be looking at ‘ones for the future’ at the right price, like the lad we’ve got at Rochdale.

    Report abuse

  24. 24
    BAGGIEBOYNICK

    would rather have carlos vela at srsenal
    on loan midfield is fine but i would also like another defender in as cover as we cant afford 2 central defenders out at the same time overall a superb start that most of us would never of dreamed of if we are honest but top midlands club at christmas not bad for relegation favourites so the experts say.
    keep it up baggies – boing boing !!!!!

    Report abuse

  25. 25
    The Real Bully Hoo.

    16.
    Or alternatively, go back to your own side and read the Greg Halford thread. Especially post 3. Your mouth must be watering at the players you will bring in with this alleged £20 mill. Halford, Mairhoffer, Van Damme etc etc…

    Report abuse

  26. 26
    Warren

    The Only Fellow

    What you seem to have been unable to grasp here, is that Wolves get gates of about 2,000 higher than the Albion, which is probably less than a million pounds more in terms of revenue per year. Your merchandising and sponsorship deals will be very similar to ours and you’ve had less Premiership money than us in recent years.

    In short, if we haven’t got any money, then neither have you. If spending £2m keeps us solvent, you spending £20m means you’ll be accumulating debt or money that’s not there and is beyond your means and effectively gambling for survival. Not very clever, especially when scouser Morgan gets tired of the abuse he’ll get for not sacking Mick and Clipboard and asks for his money back.

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  27. 27
    Rod, torquay

    If you give Mick Mccarthy 20 million he will waste it!!! give him 2 million and he would spend it wiser!! look at fletcher and van damme what a waste of money anyway he’ll be gone in 6 months max and sam allerdyce will be back at the custard bowl. AS for the beautiful blue and white half of the black country i think we really need 2 players, one def one striker… not a centre forward(carew/fortune/bedner/miller) but a striker (phillips/taylor/owen) ok here me out but im thinkin Robbie Keane… probably wouldnt get him and he’s ex Wolves but hes a football mercinary and i think he’d fit perfectly into our set up … ok if thats upset you then other options i’d look at would be berg the swedish lad, obefembi Martins(bt recently signed for rubin kazan) always worth scouting round the dutch leagues theres ment to be a tasty brazilian at pv called johnathon reis 8 goals in 11 games??!!! why not get in first before someone else….(Mr peace its an investment Ching ching!!)

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  28. 28
    Warren

    Rod

    Some interesting suggestions in there. I liked the look of Berg when we were previously linked, but I think his existing loan deal runs until the summer.

    Robbie Keane’s an excellent footballer but an arrogant little so and so, and personally I love to hate him, particularly given his continuous stream of boyhood supporter statements he makes following each move.

    Not seen Johnathan but I work next to a Middlesbrough fan, his stories about £12m Afonso Alves who forged a reputation as a ‘goal machine’ in Holland always worry me!!

    If you’re talking strikers, don’t we already have a finisher in Cox?? Trouble is at 4-5-1, I think RDM will want someone with pace, power, mobility (Is Martins mobile enough to lead the line alone?) and good feet rather than an old-fashioned goal-getter.

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  29. 29
    JACK the HAT.

    (16)
    The Odd Fellow,
    £20m you must be joking, it would take at least £80m to sort that shower out.

    Still like to see Rangers Miller come in January.
    That would confuse the opposition, as they wouldn’t know whether we’ed play Miller or Miller.

    BOING~~~~BOING~~~~JtH.

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  30. 30
    The only fellow

    26.Wozza, What you aint got is an owner that wants to spend millions. What you have got though, is an owner that wants to spend as litle as he can to maximise his personal profit for when he finds someone daft enough to buy you. Added a ground that at best is a lower championship one and needs a good goin over, and has to fill bits in to make it look as though you can nearly fill 3/4 of it. ( Any takers? no, thought not. ) At half way in the season, would Wolves swop places with you overall? No chance! The futures bright, the futures GOLD.

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  31. 31
    Warren

    30 The deluded fellow

    Our owner has sanctioned more spending in a summer transfer window than Wolves ever have (£23m under Mowbray), I’d also guess that Scharner (£40k per week) is on more than any of your players. He’s just not stupid enough to bankrupt the club by doing every year or with half of the first-team squad.

    Do you really think Steve Morgan will just give the money to Wolves?? For Wigan’s accounts read massive debt, for Fulham’s the same, to D.Whelan and M.Al-Fayed. It doesn’t get written off as a donation, it’s just not a short-term risk unless the owner demands it back. In the case of Whelan, he might write £200m off one day as he’s born and bred Wigan, Steve Morgan- the scouser who paid £10 for Wolves because he couldn’t get his own club- is most certainly not going to do the same.

    As for the ground, there’s more atmosphere in our place than you could dream of mate, I remember Denis Smith taking charge of us during a Black Country derby at Molineux. His thoughts afterwards: “It was actually pretty quiet in there”, because the stands are about 3 miles away from the pitch and the corners are empty. It’s probably been designed like that though so Mick, S Ward and Elokobi can’t hear you booing.

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  32. 32
    Cunningham

    30.

    Bit early to start on the sherry isn’t it dear?

    What we have got is a shrewd businessman who is a FAN of our club. He always gets the players we want at cheap prices, example: Odemwingie 2mil, Fletcher 7mil – who would you rather have?

    And £20mil?! You must be crazier than Mick himself! You won’t spend anything in January because no one wants to join you and Muppet/Merlin will probably be scouring the Irish leagues anyway.

    I tell you what, as a bit of festive cheer you can have Mattock, Zuiverloon, Barnett, Meite, Moore and Bednar off us. That’s a new back four and two new strikers who we don’t need but are surely better than what you already have.

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  33. 33
    Italians Do It Better

    30 – What a load of twaddle. Been on the sherry I fear. WBA spend within their means, end of. I for one would rather endure relegation/promotion than have some dim wit come to our club and spend money that we do not have. You only have to look at the likes of Leeds, Hull or Southampton to see what happens when you spend money you do not have. Just goes to show the mentality of you dingle idiots who think that by spending 20 million you may just begin to climb the premier league, maybe if your lucky, you may even end up just below us, yes I know, wishful thinking. We are head and shoulders above you and have spent a fraction of what you have. We are better thaN you, we are WBA. Get over it.

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  34. 34
    The only fellow

    31.Wozza, If he gave mowbray that much money to waste is it any wonder you aint got none left. ( staying up the mowbray way, remember that ?) I know you baggys love the £10 thing, God knows youve rung it to death, but it was in fact £30 million. Plus the other millions that are at our disposal, plus the £50 million for our new custard bowl,i could go on. As for ground atmos; ive never heard of Dennis smith the voice of world football, but belive it or not ive a few mates that are Baggy fans and therfore go and keep em company some mathdays when WOLVES aint playing.( never pay though ) and you are wrong. Honestly wrong. Somethings however are better at your place, 1.the burgers,2. the parking ( loads of that )3.the final whistle.

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  35. 35
    Cyril Randle

    34OddFellow.
    “plus the £50 million for our new custard bowl,i could go on…” Oh, Oddfellow, you do, you do! Can you not see that your Baggies friends are taking you to see REAL football and paying for you because they know, that just like your club, you’re skint,
    both in monetary and appreciation terms. It hurt me just a little to have to point out the painfully obvious, this being the season of goodwill to all Wulfies.

    Report abuse

  36. 36
    Warren

    Only fellow

    I love your enthusiasm, it matches that of your players, but also rather like your players, it’s sadly lacking quality and substance!!

    You may get a few biters, but ultimately we both know, Wolves have no more money than Albion (what they do spend will be borrowed from a scouse builder), Wolves have a significantly worse side than Albion, Wolves are more unattractive to watch than Albion and are several places beneath Albion. We also both know you’re not getting your ground when you get relegated!!

    We know you like to think you’re a big club, bragging about your extra 2,000 on the gate when your catchment area’s about 3 times bigger, but Leicester, Forest, Derby, Sheff Weds, Leeds etc etc are all big clubs. It didn’t help them did it?

    Even if Moggy sticks £20m in, what’s he gonna buy? Fletcher? Mouyukolo? Jean Claude Van Damne? Some Irish semi-pros? Jens Dowe? Mark Atkins? Steve Corica? Kevin Keen? Glenn Whelan??

    Staying up the Mick way….about 6 wins in 100. Anyone got the number to cancel those builders?

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  37. 37
    JACK the HAT.

    Odd fellow,
    The Hawthorns has never had to manage with only one stand in use, remember, when it was a rust-bucket and not fit to keep pigs in. Mr.Morgan paid £10 for the club, I saw Sir Jack’s photo in the E&S, handing over the cheque. Do the Dingles still take their binoculars to be able to see the hoof-ball. The only time they see the ball is when it’s up the stands. There isn’t any parking at all around the custard-bowl, they even have to park the bus in front of their goal. We BAGGIES don’t get a free pint with a free pie like you lot. Never mind Mick will be able to give you all a piggy-back, when you all get on it, after Wigan have walloped you.

    BOING~~~~BOING~~~~JtH.

    Report abuse

  38. 38
    The Real Bully Hoo.

    16, 30, 34. Lonely.
    Why have you changed your name??????

    I see Sidwell is the latest to turn you down. Preferred to go to the only club below you for the time being. Ah well never mind at least you can forget about football until Boxing Day.

    Report abuse

  39. 39
    CantelloRocket 78

    One of the genuine wolves fans said on here a while ago that both clubs have idiots who post complete rubbish on these sites,and it looks like we’ve found another.I’ve just read one and half posts of ‘the only fellow’,and it’s either lone wolf being very stupid,or some other plonker making LW look a genius.Why don’t E&S block this mindless,bitter drivel? It’s just nasty and pointless.

    Report abuse

  40. 40
    CantelloRocket 78

    34 the only fellow- you really slag Albion off,and then say you often go to watch them play???? There are two things that really surprise me- 1) You say some of your mates are Albion fans,yet they don’t seem to mind your deep dislike of the Baggies? and 2) the most surprising thing is that you’ve actually got any mates at all.

    Report abuse

  41. 41
    paperchase

    Don’t normally view the baggies comments but was curious about the only one signing headline. As for the £80million comment from jack the hat (post 29), well I can see why he’s calling himself hat, because he’s always talking through it.

    Report abuse

  42. 42
    Jarvo for England. WWFC.

    Yes, before anyone says anything I am a Wolves fan.

    39. You’re right, the slagging each other off is just boring and should be blocked, what’s it gunna help? honestly?

    The Albion will believe everything they want to believe as will us Wolves, Albion will believe their better than anything we have as we will do with them.

    I do disagree about some of the things you baggies have said but then again I would because I’m a Wolves fan, I think you guys know yourself that some of the things you said aren’t entirely true, but you’ve said them because you hate Wolves rather than them being the God’s honest truth.

    BOTH SETS OF FANS, GET OVER THIS BICKERING!
    IT’S PATHETIC.

    Report abuse

  43. 43
    wcorkwolf

    Jingle bells, Astle smells , Ashmans gone away – Cant remember how the rest of the song went ?

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