WEST BROMWICH, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 01: Semi Ajayi of West Bromwich Albion(R) celebrates after scoring his sides second goal with his team mates during the Sky Bet Championship match between West Bromwich Albion and Luton Town at The Hawthorns on February 01, 2020 in West Bromwich, England. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images)
West Brom needs to avoid two things according to FLW during the January transfer window.
Since taking over the managerial role at West Brom last October, Carlos Corberan has orchestrated a remarkable turnaround for the team. He steered the Black Country outfit from the bottom of the second-tier table to contention for the play-offs in the last campaign, with a notable surge in home form contributing significantly to their success.
Despite facing challenging circumstances and a lack of investment from controlling shareholder Guochuan Lai, Corberan has continued to guide the Baggies towards the top end of the division this season. To address financial constraints, the club secured a £20 million loan from MSD Holdings, an American-based company, with additional funds obtained in November.
Due to these financial constraints, West Brom could only bring in three players to the West Midlands during the summer transfer window, limiting Corberan’s ability to exert full control over the playing squad during his tenure.
With the January transfer window looming, there will be an opportunity to add further depth and quality to the group but there will be a fear of significant outgoings coming first to fund any potential move.
Here at Football League World, we outline two transfer scenarios West Brom must avoid heading into the new year.
Selling Grady Diangana
The first goal West Brom must achieve out of the January window is keeping hold of Grady Diangana.
The former West Ham academy graduate dazzled the Albion faithful in his initial spell at the club back in the 2019/20 season, with eight goals and six assists contributing to automatic promotion back to the Premier League under Slaven Bilic.
The Congolese-born wide player, crippled by injuries during two mid-table finishes in the Championship, was linked to a summer departure from The Hawthorns. Burnley, Leicester City, Leeds United, and Saudi Arabian clubs were among those reportedly interested, according to the Express & Star.
This term has seen Diangana revitalised under Corberan, with the winger already equalling his goal involvement tally from last season in 15 fewer matches.
With Diangana becoming an integral first team member again and showing the fire in his belly to succeed, Albion must ignore any interest and keep hold of the winger, who has the potential to become a key component in a promotion winning side if he can maintain his confidence.
Another area West Brom must address is the forward department, particularly concerning youth prospect Mo Faal, who is currently spending the season with League Two outfit Doncaster Rovers.
The Gambian-born striker is beginning to find his feet in the fourth tier, showcasing the talent he possesses to become a future star in a blue and white shirt.
With Albion forwards Josh Maja and Daryl Dike both experiencing multiple long-term injuries in their Albion careers so far, there may be an opportunity for Faal to work his way into the first team fold at The Hawthorns and compete for a starting spot alongside Brandon Thomas-Asante.
However, West Brom should make sure the 20-year-old sees out his loan period with Rovers, with the Baggies academy graduate still having a lot to learn in his first EFL spell away from the West Midlands.
If Faal was to be recalled, the logical reasoning would be to loan him straight back out to a League One outfit, which would give him the opportunity to make the next step in his career and find out whether his game is up to the third tier standard instead of jumping up two divisions immediately.
