Nick Hammond faces a daunting in-tray
Nick Hammond was recently appointed as West Brom’s new Technical Director – a role which has a wide ranging brief but critically includes managing the club’s recruitment. By his own admission, the club is facing a big summer and few would dispute that.
While fans will focus inevitably on new signings it might be the issues that surrounding the current squad that present the biggest challenge for the club’s Technical Director. The following are the most pressing:
- James Morrison’s contract is due to expire at the end of June. Eith other clubs plainly interested in signing the Albion midfielder, the club are in ongoing discussions with him. Cutting the right deal is critical. Losing a player of his quality would be unfortunate but there is a limit to what the club should pay for a player who will be in the twilight of his career by the end of his next contract.
- Selling Saido Berahino. Unlike last summer when the player that was courted by Spurs culminating in a deadline day stand-off which saw the Baggies reject a bid that might have been worth up to £20m, Albion probably can’t afford not to sell Berahino this summer. Following a mediocre season, Saido’s suitors are now the Premier League’s lesser lights such as Stoke City, Crystal Palace and Watford. Whilst the reported £7m bid being prepared in South London might be more than a little cheeky, Hammond might do well to get something approaching the £20m that was reportedly on offer as recently as January.
- Moving on the bomb squad of Callum McManaman, Rickie Lambert, Sebastien Pocognoli and Cristian Gamboa. These are all players who contracted to the club to 2017 or beyond who have little or no future at the Hawthorns. Finding these players new clubs without costing Albion millions in lost fees and contract buy-outs will be no small task. For instance, it was widely acknowledged that both Gamboa and Pocognoli were available last summer but no offers were forthcoming.
The value of getting the best out of some difficult situations shouldn’t be underestimated.
Hammond will get precious little praise for it but handling these matters adroitly could add millions of pounds to the clubs player budget. The summer will be busy, but clearing the decks for a squad makeover is the first step.