Jake Livermore: Joining 'ambitious' West Brom was an easy decision
Joining Albion was an easy decision for Jake Livermore because, in his opinion, the Baggies are a team on the up.
Livermore's transfer from Hull City was announced by the Baggies this morning after the club agreed a deal with the Tigers in the region of £10milllion.
The 27-year-old central midfielder has signed a four-and-a-half-year deal that keeps him at The Hawthorns until the summer of 2021 and will wear the number eight shirt.
"Once I realised Tony and the club were interested it was an easy decision to come here and play for a club with such ambition," said Livermore. "It's a club going in the right direction and I'm delighted to be a part of it."
The former Tottenham midfielder joins Albion part way through an impressive campaign that has them currently positioned in eighth place of the Premier League. And he left struggling Hull for the chance to finish in the top half.
"I spoke briefly with the manager and that's clearly what he wants, along with the rest of the squad," he revealed. "I'm sure the fans and everyone else involved will want the same."
Pulis hopes Livermore can be the dynamic box-to-box midfielder he's been searching for since the summer, when the Baggies pulled out of a deal with Malaga for Ignacio Camacho and also had an offer rejected for Sporting Lisbon's William Carvalho.
This month, he failed to land top target Morgan Schneiderlin, but Livermore was next in line.
Even though he has played in defence for Hull this season, he's expecting to be deployed further forward under Pulis.
"I've been playing a bit deeper this season at my previous club and playing centre-half which I quite enjoyed," said Livermore. "But I'd like to get forward and get more goals.
"I have a preference of midfield but I'll play wherever the team needs me and wherever the gaffer deems fit."
His signing was completed in time for him to play against Sunderland tomorrow, although Tony Pulis suggested at his press conference this morning that he would start his first game on the bench.
"I had some great times at Hull City, we had a great bunch there," added Livermore. "It was just the time for ourselves to part and I'm delighted with my new challenge now."
