By Darren Bent

28th Jan, 2021 | 5:00pm

Exclusive: Darren Bent excited by huge West Brom transfer update from Sky

The loan signing of striker Mbaye Diagne is a great start but West Brom “need more” at the other end of the pitch too, says Darren Bent.

Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the 106-goal ex-Premier League striker was reacting after Albion reached a deal with Galatasary for the 29-year-old centre-forward, as per Sky Sports.

The Senegalese international has scored 11 goals in 19 appearances for the Turkish outfit this season and Sam Allardyce will be hoping he can give the relegation strugglers some much-needed firepower — Matheus Pereira is Albion’s current top scorer with five goals.

But it is in defence where they have really struggled this season, conceding a staggering 48 in the Premier League so far, 12 more than any other team.

And Bent says that Baggies are right to add a striker but that they still need more quality in their backline.

Asked where he thought Albion could strengthen over the rest of the window, he told Football Insider: “I did think they needed a centre-forward, definitely. I don’t think they score enough goals.

“But they possibly need one more centre-half. They need to address the back end as well as the front.

“Semi Ajayi has done okay there actually, but they definitely need more in defence as well as firepower up front.”

Robert Snodgrass was West Brom’s first January signing, although the transfer was mired in controversy surrounding the two clubs’ now-notorious gentlemen’s agreement.

Allardyce has also brought in veteran goalkeeper Andy Lonergan, but the 37-year-old is not expected to usurp Sam Johnstone in the starting XI.

In other news, a top pundit has defended Sam Allardyce and West Brom over the Robert Snodgrass situation.