While a goalless draw at home to Leeds United was hardly anything to write home about for the West Brom supporters, further disappointment now comes their way in the transfer market.
Baggies boss Carlos Corberan admitted, before welcoming his old employers to The Hawthorns, that further additions are required before the window closes at the start of September.
The centre of midfield looks particularly bare.
West Brom have only four senior, natural midfielders. Five, if you include the versatile Paddy McNair. Okay Yokuslu, Yann M’Vila and Nathaniel Chalobah have all departed, with this arguably the area of the pitch where Albion are clearly most at need of reinforcements.
“It is not that I want (new signings), it is that we have to (make them),” Corberan said, via the Birmingham Mail. “If you know the players that we have lost, it gives you a possibility in terms of the needs that we have to cover.
“We need to (sign) players that allow us to be a competitive team. Of course, in the process to find these players, you need to do it according to your possibilities.”
Carlos Corberan wants new signings at West Brom
In addition to Yokuslu, starting striker Brandon Thomas-Asante and Conor Townsend have gone too. At least, with Torbjorn Heggem marking his Championship bow with an assist, a replacement for the latter may have been secured already.
“We lost Asante, Okay and Townsend,” Corberan adds. “We can see if we can (sign) the same profile of player as Okay.”
This may explain West Brom’s pursuit of Isaac Price.
The Northern Ireland international left Everton last summer in search of more regular first-team football. And he’s certainly found it over in Belgium. Price made 39 top-flight appearances for Standard Liege during the 2023/24 campaign.
An aggressive midfielder who likes a tackle, the Pontefract-born 20-year-old appears to tick a few of West Brom’s boxes as far as a Yokuslu successor goes.
According to Belgian reporter Sacha Tavolieri, however, The Baggies have struggled to agree a deal. Standard Liege turned down a second bid worth a few weeks ago.
And, while Standard’s reported £1.7 million asking price is hardly an eye-watering demand, Price does not appear to be in any rush to make his return to English football anyway.
Isaac Price keen to stay at Standard Liege
“I want to stay again this season,” Price tells DH Net, hammering another nail into West Brom’s hopes of luring him to the Hawthorns. “Even more so when I see how we started the season.
“We will see (what happens regarding bids). But I was told at the club that they did not want me to leave.”
Standard Liege coach Ivan Leko confirmed as much earlier in August. He labels Price a ‘great talent’ with ‘great potential’, while adding that the youngster would benefit from committing his future to the Stade Maurice Dufrasne outfit and developing his talents at a club where regular starts are almost guaranteed.
HITC understands that one option that interest West Brom is Isaac Hayden.
The experienced midfielder will be allowed to leave Newcastle United on loan. Former employers Hull City are also keen on the well-travelled Hayden.
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