West Brom: Di Matteo looking at "several" new signings

Jul 29 2009 by Christopher Lepkowski, Birmingham Mail

ROBERTO Di Matteo remains coy over speculation linking Albion with Rotherham striker Reuben Reid.

The Baggies are monitoring the 21-year-old following his 19-goal haul last season, which first brought him to Di Matteo’s attention when he was managing MK Dons.

Di Matteo hinted that Reid was among several players being spoken about.

“We are working behind the scenes and talking to a few people and we get linked on a daily basis with quite a lot of players,” he said. “But at the moment I have no news on anything.

“I can’t guarantee (new signings) before the start of the season but we are working hard to bring one or two players in.

“It’s been a quiet summer in the transfer window all round but a lot of deals are always done a week before the start of the season.

‘‘I don’t know why that it is, but that’s the way it’s been in the past and it looks like this season won’t be any different.”

Albion lost 1-0 to Swindon last night but were somewhat fortunate not to be defeated by a greater margin as they struggled to cope with Town’s aerial threat.

As with most clubs’ pre-season preparations, Di Matteo will focus most of his energies next week on team shape, formation and the kind of defensive drills which proved Albion’s undoing at the County Ground last night.

“We still have a lot of work ahead of us, especially on the defensive side of our team,” he added.

“Going forward I think we have enough quality to always be dangerous but we have to make sure that we get a lot tighter and don’t concede.

“When we have possession and we pass the ball there is good quality, and there were also a few players who played 90 minutes last night.

“I rotated the team a little bit because we have now played three games in six days and we have another one on Saturday.

“I would have liked to be a bit further ahead in terms of the work we have done but I realise it is not going to happen over three weeks.

“Fitness-wise I have no complaints. We will be fit and sharp for the beginning of the Championship.

“I have a rough idea what our team is going to look like.

‘‘But there are still a few positions open so the players still have a chance to make an impression and show they want to be part of the team.”