Tony Pulis eyes Crystal Palace ace Joel Ward and Middlesbrough’s Ben Gibson and wants five more signings
Baggies boss determined to celebrate his new Hawthorns deal by bolstering his Premier League squad in several areas before the close of the transfer window
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TONY PULIS is confident he will have five new signings to help celebrate his own new deal.
West Brom’s boss, 59, has extended his stay at the Baggies by a year to 2019 — and believes his targets will be at The Hawthorns before the transfer window shuts on August 31.
Middlesbrough centre-half Ben Gibson, Everton midfielder Gareth Barry and Crystal Palace right-back Joel Ward are all high on Pulis’ wishlist.
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But Albion have also been linked with Barcelona’s ex-Arsenal defender Thomas Vermaelen and Pulis is keen to add another striker.
Striker Jay Rodriguez, 28, is set for his Baggies debut against Bournemouth today after his £12million move from Southampton. And 26-year-old Egyptian centre-back Ahmed Hegazy joined on loan from Al Ahly.
But other deals have dragged on, although the Welshman is not worried.
Pulis said: “We’ve got five targets and I’ve got full confidence we can bring in the players we need.
“The chairman John Williams is working tirelessly to get those deals over the line.”
Albion are weighing up a third bid for Boro star Gibson, 24, after being knocked back twice with offers up to £20m and Pulis has not given up hope.
He added: “I haven’t accepted anything with Gibson. If we’re doing business with Middlesbrough we’ll do it through those channels.”
Baggies’ Nacer Chadli could become a target for Swansea — once Everton meet the Welsh club’s £50m valuation for Gylfi Sigurdsson.
But Pulis scotched reports of a fall-out with the Belgian, insisting: “Nacer is with us and I hope he stays with us. There’s no problem with Nacer.”
West Brom defender Gareth McAuley will miss Northern Ireland’s World Cup qualifiers against San Marino and the Czech Republic next month.
The 37-year-old picked up a thigh injury at the back end of last season.
And Pulis admitted: “Gareth won’t be fit for a couple of weeks. He’s still struggling with his thigh.”
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