West Bromwich Albion are looking to build a strong team in the next season, after the late disappointment of the last season that made them end up outside the top eight, in the tenth position. The Baggies were brilliant at home in the last term, but they need to be more consistent in their form outside home and for that, they are looking to bring in a number of players who can make them stay on the right course throughout the season.
Though the West Brom defenders have performed well in the last season, the onus has been on the strikers to make it a successful season in terms of scoring goals for their team and give them the much-needed impetus for a winning season. Tony Pulis, the current man in charge at the Hawthorns, has been wary of the fact that he hasn’t got enough firepower in his arsenal, and has been quite desperate to bring in top class strikers to add to the roster in the summer.
The Baggies have secured one such player, whose addition might give their coach the hope to turn the table on its head in the next season, in the form of Jay Rodriguez from Southampton. The England international is one of the players who has been eyed by the Baggies manager for quite some time, and he had two failed bids made to bag the player before and made his third attempt to land the much-desired striker at the Hawthorns count. The striker has been brought in on a four-year deal for a transfer fee of £12 million.
The 27-year-old had a great start to his spell at Southampton where he moved from Burnley in 2012 for £6 million, and his brilliant performance in the first season for the Saints earned him a call-up to the national team under the coaching of Roy Hodgson.
He continued to make heads turn with his performance for the national team as well, netting 15 goals in the 2013/14 season. He also carried on with his good form in club football as well, fast becoming the mainstay for the Saints and a firm fan favourite at the St Mary’s Stadium.
However, his progress in the Premier League was stunted by a series of injuries, which made the striker to lose more than a season sitting on the bench. He finally ended up featuring only in nine games in the last term under former Southampton manager Claude Puel, and finally ending his five-year long term with the Saints at 35 goals from 126 games.
