West Brom's January transfer strategy: Ian Pearce conversations and likely departures

The technical committee at West Bromwich Albion is meeting often as the upcoming January transfer window approaches. This will be Carlos Corberan's first chance to make his mark on the team he took over in October.

Since taking over for Steve Bruce, Corberan has completely changed Albion's season. In an absurdly short period of time, the Spaniard has led the team to six victories in the space of eight games, and as a result, they have moved up from the bottom of the league and straight into play-off contention.

The current Albion squad was put together by five separate prior managers, but right away, Corberan has instigated an unexpected turn of events. He has previously stated that he would be happy with the team he has at his disposal if, as of February 1st, no players were to be acquired.

The club is still waiting for the $5 million loan that owner Guochuan Lai has promised would be repaid by New Year's Eve and made available for hiring next month; despite this, he is still anxious to add to his team if feasible and relying on the budget on offer.

West Bromwich Albion official 2022/23 squad.

Corberan has been speaking with the club's head of recruiting, Ian Pearce, about January 1 and has praised the job done this summer, when Albion made additions like Jed Wallace, John Swift, Okay Yokuslu, Brandon Thomas-Asante, and Tom Rogic.

"We have a good relationship, a good level of communication, that is the key in the club, before I arrive here I had a conversation with Ian Pearce and Ron," Corberan said. "From my first day here we are working together on this pitch.

"So my level of communication with both is day-by-day or a minimum two or three times per week. We always talk and review everything because for me the togetherness makes us stronger."

When Corberan was unveiled, chief executive Ron Gourlay did mention that some players might need to leave the team to help the finances. At the moment, Albion has players like captain Jake Livermore, Martin Kelly, and Adam Reach who routinely miss out on spots in the match-day 18 due to the intense competition for spots.

Kenneth Zohore and Kean Bryan, who have both had relatively awful runs at the club thus far for various reasons, will both see their present contracts expire next summer. Albion also has Kyle Bartley to re-enter the picture in due time.

However, Corberan has reasoned that players leaving the club in the upcoming month may be standard practice - especially if there are players who are dissatisfied with their game-time. Corberan is focusing on how the club may enhance its team moving into the second half of the season.

"Now we are more focused to see if we need any position to reinforce more than any type of exit," he added. "After in football there always appears different possibilities more related to ambition of the players more than the ambition or decision of the clubs.

"We understand every player wants to play, when you have a group of 22 players, you are never going to involve all of them, every week four or five players go out of the team, it's always one uncomfortable position for them.

"Every club has the challenge to discuss the situation when the players want and see what is the best possibility for the clubs."