Steve Bruce delivers transfer update as defender is tipped for West Brom loan

Steve Bruce is not making any immediate plans to add to his existing centre half options despite West Bromwich Albion confirming the departures of three players in that position over the course of this summer.

Albion have bid farewell to last year’s loanee and player of the year Matt Clarke, with no imminent return on the horizon (although Bruce has refused to rule a move out later in the window ), while Cedric Kipre and Caleb Taylor have been loaned out to fellow EFL sides.

Kean Bryan hasn’t played football of any form since the beginning of November last year when he suffered a season-ending injury, and that leaves Bruce with Dara O’Shea, Semi Ajayi and Kyle Bartley.

That trio have played regularly in pre-season, with the latter managing couple of hour-long appearances upon his return from injury, but the existing pool of options in that department has had some Baggies supporters curious as to whether the club plan to add a further recruit.

The introductions of Jed Wallace and John Swift. The integration of Daryl Dike. The rejuvenation of Grady Diangana. That’s exciting, and that’s before you even mention last season’s top goalscorer who has continued to net in pre-season, writes Joseph Chapman.

At the very beginning of their friendly campaign, progress was slow in the final third for West Bromwich Albion. The first two goals came from left-backs, and after two and a half matches there were familiar noises emerging from the Albion fanbase - here we go again.

Steve Bruce was desperate to address the quality of supply in the final third, which had been a rather desolate area of the field last season. More so, Bruce knew Albion had to score more goals. Simply, they passed up too many chances created under his