Carlos Corberan is preparing for the “most difficult challenge” of his career as the West Brom manager made a worrying admission about the current state of his squad.
The Baggies have lost several key players this summer with Okay Yokuslu, Conor Townsend and Brandon Thomas-Asante leaving The Hawthorns in the past week.
West Brom have to follow a business plan imposed by the English Football League to comply with the division’s financial regulations, meaning there could be more sales at The Hawthorns.
Corberan acknowledged the challenge he faces when speaking after the 4-1 defeat to Birmingham City on Saturday (3 August).
He said, as per Birmingham Live (3 August): “I know and I am prepared to face the most difficult challenge of my life as a coach. This is what I am prepared to face.
“Sometimes the idea, everything we always want as coaches, is to have the players quick in pre-season, to have the players to work the idea you have. But unfortunately football doesn’t always allow us to face the ideal circumstances.”
Corberan added: “Now it is a different scenario, where we have to take some risks and the players need to do a quick and probably not the best adaptation to be ready to compete. But it’s the situation we have right now. There is a lot of work ahead because of course this is what we need.”
Corberan’s damning recognition of his lack of squad depth, with the Championship curtain-raiser against Queens Park Rangers less than a week away, is a concern for West Brom supporters.
The Baggies had hoped to improve on last season’s play-off semi-final defeat to Southampton but are now faced with bigger problems.
Jed Wallace is a doubt for the Championship opener (Express & Star, 4 August), limiting Corberan’s options further, and they now face a tough challenge in a game they should be heavy favourites for.
The size of the task ahead is not lost on the 41-year-old, but he needs to act fast in the transfer market and bolster his depleted squad.
As the new season draws closer the nerves are building with limited options left available in the market.
Djurgarden defender Besard Sabovic has been linked with a move to The Hawthorns, alongside Leicester City striker Tom Cannon, but neither move has yet to materialise.
Corberan remains committed to West Brom and is ready to navigate the financial constraints and rebuild the side, but the task will be difficult and one that must be put to one side as the Baggies focus on starting the 2024/25 Championship season in winning fashion.
In other West Brom news, Leicester legend Jamie Vardy is set to cause one of Corberan’s transfers to fail.
For more West Brom news, follow us on Facebook or join our brand new WhatsApp Channel for instant updates to be sent straight to your phone.
Leave a Reply