West Brom still in the hunt for more summer signings, says Steve Bruce
- Simon Wilkes
- 3 August 2022
West Brom boss Steve Bruce admits he is still looking to strengthen his squad with more signings before the summer transfer window slams shut next month.
The Baggies chief moved quickly at the end of last season, drafting in former Reading playmaker John Swift and ex Millwall winger Jed Wallace on free transfers to ensure they were at the club for pre-season training.
Goalkeeper Sam Johnstone left for Crystal Palace and Romaine Sawyers joined Cardiff, both on free transfers, and that freed up some room on the wage bill to bring in Okay Yokuslu, who moved to The Hawthorns on a free after being released by Celta Vigo.
Wallace and Swift combined to score an equaliser in last Saturday's 1-1 draw at Middlesbrough, and Bruce admits he is still knocking on the door of West Brom chief executive Ron Gourlay's office to find more new blood for the Championship season.
He told the Express & Star: "I keep saying to them [the players] my job is to knock the door down constantly, we can never be happy as managers, once you're happy you get into that apathy.
"We've got to improve, I know we've improved with (Daryl) Dike, Okay (Yukuslu) and the two (John) Swift and (Jed) Wallace, that's improved us.
"If we can do a couple more then I'll try my utmost. My job is to keep knocking on the door to see if we can.
"The big clubs are about to start with their younger players so we have to be aware of that market. We'll see what we can do to improve."
Star striker Daryl Dike is building up his match fitness after suffering an injury shortly after his £7million move to Albion from Orlando City last January.
And when Yokuslu is also firing on all cylinders, Bruce feels the four will be 'big additions' to the club.
He added: "We were short on goals and creativity last year and with those two (Swift and Wallace) in particular have been doing it year-in, year-out in the Championship.
"They've both got off to a wonderful start, it's helped us to have them, all the work Ron (Gourlay, chief executive) has put in to get them in for pre-season with us bears fruits because they've been in, got used to the lads and settled into the area.
"They will be a big addition to the club, we have to get Okay up to speed and big Dike and that's like four new signings for myself.
"It's been great to have Swift and Wallace with us throughout pre-season, but we'd love a couple more."
