Steve Bruce is desperate to bring some attacking flair into the side with West Bromwich Albion being 17th in the Championship for goals (52), but Carlton Palmer doesn’t believe they have a chance at landing one of their many transfer targets.

The Baggies have their eye on Millwall’s Jed Wallace, after the 28-year-old scored six goals with 11 assists from 37 Championship games. Wallace is out of contract in the coming weeks and thus available on a free transfer, but Palmer doesn’t think Albion can beat out all the competition to procure his signature.

He told Football League World: “He’s been a very, very consistent, high-level performer in the championship. He’s a good player, but he’s available on a free transfer.

“This is where the problem comes in, the way they run the club financially at West Bromwich Albion. I believe Burnley and Leeds are interested in him, and Steve Cooper at Forest went for him before, so you would think West Brom have no chance of getting him.”

West Brom don’t have lucrative funds for new recruits, so they’re having to bring in free transfers and loan signings. Couple that with Premier League clubs and better Championship sides competing with the Baggies over a player and it’s hard to see Albion winning the transfer race.

Palmer is probably fair to suggest Leeds, Burnley and playoff finalists Forest have a better chance of signing Wallace. But Bruce has a lot of players on his shortlist, so there are alternatives if West Brom don’t land their top targets this summer.

In other news, Steve Bruce’s decision to axe Romaine Sawyers is bold and surprising