Pulis ready for Baggies budget battle

Tony Pulis knows that West Brom face a fight when they take on Swansea in the season finale on Sunday but the Baggies boss believes he may face a bigger battle 24 hours later.

Monday will see Pulis head to China to meet with West Brom owner Guochuan Lai to discuss the transfer and wage budgets he will have to play with this summer.

Albion have spent the majority of the Premier League campaign in eighth spot and although they dropped to ninth recently, they could reclaim what has become their second home with a win over Swansea on Sunday.

Photo by Mark Runnacles/Getty Images

Even if they lose, Pulis is guaranteed a first top-ten Premier League finish of his managerial career and is desperate to sign off with a victory.

“We know it will be a tough game down there,” Pulis said. “But we’re desperate to win the game.

“I think we’re guaranteed a top-ten finish now so it would be nice to go down there and win our last game if we can. But we know Swansea will be trying to do the same.

“The most important thing is going to China on Monday, having a meeting with the Chinese and Mr Lai, finding out exactly what they’ve got and their views going forward

“That’s very important. We’ll have a good discussion about what we think will be available and costs.

“It will be a good couple of days hopefully. The most important thing is to find out what we’ve got to spend and what ambitions the club have got to push on.”