Slaven Speaks - Man City
WHUFC.com
Slaven Bilic has faced the media ahead of Saturday’s game against Manchester City. The Gaffer spoke at length about his new signing Sam Byram, other potential January targets and team news ahead of the visit of the Citizens.
Sam Byram first of all. Tell us what you see in him and what he’ll bring to the team?
SB: “It’s a good buy for us. He is a young player, he’s English, he’s home-grown, very young but with the experience of playing in the Championship. We are planning for the next season, and he has been on our radar for a long time. To be fair it was more of a plan for next season, but it is good to have him now.”
How did the deal come together, because Everton thought they were pretty close to signing him, but you moved in very quickly…
SB: “We didn’t react on Everton. We had been tracking him for a long time, and it wasn’t only Everton, there were a few other clubs who wanted him. At the end, we didn’t jump in after we heard some other clubs were interested in him. According to the television and all that he was quite close to signing for Everton, but we knew we had a good chance and we’re delighted that he came to us.”
He said he was persuaded by what you said to him – can you give us a flavour of what was said?
SB: “I told him that I like young players and I told him my opinion about him and about in which areas he can and should improve. He liked it and I didn’t promise him anything, but what he really liked is that he found out we were watching him for a long time and he realised we were serious about him and had big plans for him. It’s up to him to show us in training and in games his improvement and he wants to be a part of our big project. It was a simple talk and after he talk he decided to join us."
At what point might you introduce him to the first team?
SB: “I will be open and say that he was more for us for the next season, because we have Carl Jenkinson, who is on loan from Arsenal and at the start of the season they said this is the last year they will give him to us. Then we started to look who could fill that gap for us. We have Tomkins there, we have Joey O’Brien, who is a long time injured, and we lost a few players from last season like Guy Demel so we did it [signed Byram]. He has come now and it is only a plus for now, but I can’t tell you now when he is going to play.”
About ten days left before the window closes. Are you looking for a striker still?
SB: “Yes, but not big time. We are not panicking, we have a couple of players injured still, but both should be fit early or mid-February. On the other hand there are a couple of players who may leave the Club – maybe Zarate maybe Jelavic, and if that happens we will try to get one striker.”
How are you looking for team news on Saturday?
SB: “Joey O’Brien is back. He has been through a lot of setbacks regarding his injuries and I’m glad for him that he will join us on Thursday. Hopefully he will be fit for the long term now. James Tomkins has a small injury from the game against Newcastle. He is going to train individually on Thursday and will join us in training on Friday so we will see if he is available. All the others are good, apart from Sakho, Carroll and Lanzini. They are still out, but are recovering ahead of schedule."
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