West Bromwich Albion manager Tony Pulis has expressed his delight at signing Kieran Gibbs from Arsenal for a reduced rate.
The Gunners had originally demanded a fee believed to be £12m for the England international and rejected a £10m from the Baggies earlier in the summer.
However, Watford then reportedly agreed a deal worth £5m plus £2m in add-ons for Gibbs late in August, and West Brom were swift to pounce for the 27-year-old for a similar price.
"I just thought Gibbs was too expensive," Pulis is quoted by the Evening Standard as saying. "The £12m that Arsenal were talking about at the beginning of the season was too expensive. To get him for £5m over a period of time now is a good deal for us.
"We've got to get him fit. I think he has struggled with injuries over a period and that's been a big factor at times in his career.
"You look at him and he's a racehorse – he's quick and he's different to [Grzegorz Krychowiak], who's a lot stronger physically and [Oliver Burke], who's a lot stronger physically."
Gibbs has played 43 times in the Champions League and also has 10 England caps to his name.
Giuseppe Labellarte
