West Bromwich Albion coach Slaven Bilic has called for the club to speed up their business in the transfer window ahead of the new season. 

On-loan Benfica midfielder Filip Krovinovic is the only addition the Baggies have made since the Croatian took charge in June.

Eight players, including centre-back Craig Dawson and striker Jay Rodriguez, have left the Hawthorns in the transfer window meaning Bilic needs new additions to his squad.

Speaking to Birmingham Live, the new West Brom coach said signing new players was out of his hands and encouraged the club to get some deals done.

He said: "As every West Brom fan knows, we need to get some players because we lost a lot of players last season and we need to replace them.

"At the moment, is it close? I hope it's close. It's not on me. I'm inside of course, but it's not me who is dealing and finishing the transfers. I hope (we make some) because it's about time.

"It's only three weeks (until the season starts). Like any other manager I would like to have had the players for the first day of pre-season but let's say it will be crucial for them to come next week.”

Verdict

Bilic is right to be concerned over the lack of business done by the Baggies so far this summer and it may be comforting for fans to hear him acknowledge that issue.

When you consider the business that fellow promotion hopefuls like Leeds United, Brentford, and Stoke City have done this summer it is mystifying that West Brom have brought in just one new player.

The Midlands club came close last season, losing to Aston Villa in the play-offs, but will need to replace a number of key players if they are to repeat that success or go a step further.

One area that needs some attention is the forward line. The departures of Rodriguez and Dwight Gayle, who was on loan last season, mean the Baggies have lost a duo that scored 46 goals in 2018/19 and have done nothing to replace them.