West Brom boss Slaven Bilic won’t be replicating Norwich City’s approach to recruitment as he prepares for life in the Premier League - claiming the Canaries ‘haven’t even tried anything’.
The Baggies won promotion last week on an epic final day in the Championship - with a 2-2 draw against QPR enough to secure their place in the top-flight, joining Leeds United.
Bilic was appointed at the Hawthorns last season with the sole aim of ensuring the club returned to the Premier League.
Now promotion has been confirmed, Bilic has turned his attentions to preparing for life in the top-flight and has identified Sheffield United’s approach to recruitment as the one he’d like to replicate - not Aston Villa or the Canaries.
“We have a good team, we have breadth, we need quality,” Bilic told Gol.hr. “We have to do something similar to Sheffield United, not like Aston Villa, and definitely not like Norwich who haven’t even tried anything.”
City opted to invest in those already on their books and utilise the loan market last summer, with Ibrahim Amadou, Ralf Fahrmann and Patrick Roberts all joining the club temporarily.
Sam Byram and Lukas Rupp were the only players purchased by the Canaries that commanded a transfer fee. City’s total outlay on the pair was rumoured to be around £850,000.
The club’s accounts reveal that City actually spent in excess of £6 million - which includes loan and agent fees. The Canaries have already added to their squad ahead of the new campaign, with Jacob Sorensen and Przemyslaw Placheta joining last week.
For Bilic, the aim is to add further quality into his side in order to compete at the top level next season.
“We need to invest, but in quality - quality,” Bilic added.
“It’s nice to be a part of this story, to be a part of West Bromwich Albion, that traditional club. It’s a big success for us personally, but it’s best when you make something that means to the community and a lot of people.
“When old and young stop you, you see how much it means to them.”
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