After a difficult start to the season, Tony Pulis has found his way back into the Premier League with his tactics once again working out fine week in and week out. West Bromwich Albion have a real chance of qualifying for the Europa League qualification spot this time as the race for the top four heats up.
The Baggies are currently in the eighth position in the Premier League table with 37 points as they maintain a constant pressure on Everton. While the inclusion of Jake Livermore has brought a different fluidity to the side, which has often been missing in their first half of the season, there is one department Pulis chose not to focus on during the winter transfer window- the forward’s role.
West Brom have only one natural striker, Salomon Rondon, in their whole squad and although he has been decent at times, he is definitely not someone with a killing presence up front. However, Pulis is seemingly happy with his displays as his tactics involve close-knit defending and attack on the break. The manager has midfielders and defenders, who have scored over five goals individually, which pretty much explains his under dependence on the sole striker.
Rondon has managed to score only seven goals in 25 appearances and with an eye to keeping things from getting complacent for his side, Pulis is now reportedly eyeing to bring in some competition up front in Hoffenheim’s Sandro Wagner.
According to German news outlets, The Baggies will now compete with Premier League rivals Swansea City in the summer for the towering striker. Since arriving at Hoffenheim last summer from Darmstadt, the 29-year-old has scored 10 goals for the club already. Although he hasn’t featured for the side since getting red-carded against Leipzig at the end of January, his displays have apparently been enough to grab eyeballs from numerous clubs across Europe.
Wagner is hugely experienced playing in a host of clubs so far in his career. Starting his career at the youth club FC Hertha München Jugend, the German international moved to Bayern Munich back in 1995 as 12-year-old. Since breaking into their youth team in 2002, Wagner wasted no time climbing the ranks and final making it to the first team in 2007.
Failing to impress there he went to third tier MSV Duisburg on a free transfer in 2008 before Werder Bremen picked him up in 2010. He was sold to Hertha Berlin after a loan stint with FC Kaiserslautern and then moved to FC Kaiserslautern in 2015 before joining Hoffenheim.
At 6ft4, the centre-forward could be a real threat to any side in the Premier League and could really flourish under Tony Pulis. West Brom are definitely moving for a striker next season and Wagner fits the bill perfectly.
