West Brom transfers: Mowbray hunting for the stars of tomorrow

Jan 24 2009 by Christopher Lepkowski, Birmingham Mail

TONY Mowbray is continuing to comb the transfer market for his next ‘star of tomorrow’.

The Baggies boss signed Robert Koren on a free transfer from Lillestrom during the January window two years ago.

Koren remains the model signing for Mowbray, who also signed the likes of Jonas Olsson (£800,000) and Filipe Teixeira (£680,000) for relatively low fees.

Mowbray said: “Whether they cost £14 million or £4.50, in my mind it is whether you like them as footballers and I just want good players at my club.

“That is why amongst free transfers and loans you can find good players out there.

“The secret is to find them before they become stars.

“Koren joins us in January two years ago on a free transfer from Lillestrom and yet he has played just about every game in the Premier League for us and cost us absolutely nothing.

“There are decent players out there if you look hard enough and can find them.

“At Hibs we had a miniscule budget and the secret is to walk along a bunch of pebbles and find a diamond.

“Steve Bruce found a diamond when he picked Palacios up off the beach of Honduras. We’ve got to try and do the same. It can be done.