Express & Star

Steve Clarke won't get funds for West Brom's January sales

Steve Clarke must fashion an Albion recovery with the players already at the club – and not rely on a fresh wave of January transfers.

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The Baggies are sticking to their new-year strategy of remaining reluctant activists in the January window despite growing speculation of interest in a variety of targets.

This week has seen the end-of-year rumour-mill kick into gear and link Albion to a string of targets both at home and abroad.

But the club are again cautioning fans against getting swept up in the transfer talk.

With the breakthrough of Saido Berahino and the anticipated January return of George Thorne from his Watford loan taking Albion's senior numbers to 28, chairman Jeremy Peace feels Clarke has enough to compete effectively.

Albion's head coach is in the most difficult moments of his Hawthorns tenure as his team approaches Saturday's clash at Cardiff City on the back of three successive defeats.

Albion scouts have been spotted at Ipswich where there has been a long-standing interest in Aaron Cresswell, the 23-year-old left-back. The Baggies have also been monitoring Bundesliga action sparking reports that Jonas Olsson's fellow Swedish international central defender Per Nilsson, and the American right back Tim Chandler, who play for Nurnberg.

On top of that come reports that Albion are in the driving seat to take Manchester United's Wilfried Zaha – if the champions loan him out.

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