Steve Bruce is in the market for summer signings after a disappointing 2021/22 season, so what former Baggies players should West Brom look to re-sign to forge a promotion push?
The Hawthorns natives endured a meagre 10th-place finish this term as they sought to seal an immediate Premier League return. West Brom fell back into the second-tier last season, and would end this campaign 21 points off the automatic places and eight to the play-offs.
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West Brom additionally only boasted the 17th-best offensive record across their 46 regular-season games with 52 goals scored. Yet the Baggies were a tough side to score against, with Valerien Ismael and Bruce’s combined record the fourth-best with only 45 conceded.
Only Bournemouth (39), Nottingham Forest (40) and champions Fulham (41) let in fewer goals than West Brom did this season. Yet only Barnsley (33), Hull City (41), Peterborough (43), Derby County (45), Cardiff City and Birmingham City (50) found the net less regularly.
Bruce is eager to now strengthen West Brom’s creativity and is interested in a free transfer for John Swift of Reading. The Athletic note the Baggies believe they can offer the 26-year-old the perfect place to showcase his skill following an 11-goal, 13-assist season this term.
West Brom can couple a transfer for summer free agent Swift with moves to re-sign some of their former players, too. So, with that in mind, here are a few former Hawthorns stars Bruce should consider as he looks to assemble a squad capable of pushing for promotion…
West Brom could solve attacking woes by re-signing Salomon Rondon
West Brom could help to solve Bruce’s attacking woes this summer by re-signing Salomon Rondon from Everton. The forward spent four years contracted to the Baggies from 2015 to 2019, after the Hawthorns hierarchy paid Zenit a club-record £12m for the Venezuelan.
Rondon recorded 28 goals and 10 assists over his 120 games for West Brom before joining Newcastle United on loan. He later followed Rafa Benitez to China as Dalian Yifang paid his £16.5m release clause following the striker forging a strong relegation with the Spaniard.
Benitez signed Rondon again last year after taking charge of Everton, where the 32-year-old is under contract until 2023. But the 87-cap international has struggled to establish a starting role at Goodison Park, and is far from current boss Frank Lampard’s first-choice.
Steve Bruce could hinder promotion rival with Baggies return for Jay Rodriguez
Bruce could hinder a potential promotion rival next season by seeing that West Brom re-sign former striker Jay Rodriguez. The forward may be heading to the Championship next term with his Burnley side currently battling Everton and Leeds United to avoid relegation.
Rodriguez left The Hawthorns for Turf Moor in 2019 for an initial £5m, rising to £10m after his first season. The 32-year-old made 90 appearances with the Baggies in all competitions for 33 goals and eight assists after joining the club from Southampton for £12m in 2017.
Burnley have locked Rodriguez down for another two years this month as his previous deal was set to expire this year. Yet having struggled to hold down a starting role at Turf Moor this season, the one-cap England international could seek more regular minutes next term.
West Brom could offer Nathan Ferguson regular games after Crystal Palace plight
Nathan Ferguson left West Brom for Crystal Palace on a three-year contract in July 2020 when his Baggies deal ended. Yet the 21-year-old has only featured once for the Eagles so far, with an eight-minute outing under Patrick Vieira on December 26, 2021, at Tottenham.
The full-back – who played 21 senior games at The Hawthorns – has endured a nightmare with injuries since arriving at Selhurst Park. Ferguson rocked up in south London nursing a knee injury, ruptured his Achilles in training last summer then suffered a hamstring injury.
Ferguson impressed Vieira with what he had to show in training before his latest issue. The Frenchman told Crystal Palace’s club website back in January: “He’s been really impressive.
“I did not know a lot about him [when I replaced Roy Hodgson in July]. But since he came back to training, he’s really comfortable with the ball at his feet. He can defend really well in one v one [situations], he has really good pace and is a really interesting young player.”
Bruce could now offer Ferguson a chance to prove his match fitness by requesting West Brom re-sign the defender. With his contract at Crystal Palace expiring in 2023, both the England U20 international and the Eagles may be keen to see him leave to earn minutes.
West Brom should consider re-signing Ben Foster to replace Sam Johnstone
West Brom will likely be in the market for a new goalkeeper this summer with England star Sam Johnstone out of contract in June. The Athletic also report West Ham are interested in Johnstone and are leading Tottenham in their pursuit of the 29-year-old’s services for free.
Bruce could now acquire a replacement for the shot-stopper by luring Ben Foster back to The Hawthorns. The 39-year-old has announced on Twitter he is leaving Watford as a free agent this June and is looking for a new side, four years after leaving West Brom for £4m.
Foster had spent seven years at The Hawthorns including an initial season-long loan from Birmingham City in 2011/12. Over that time, the shot-stopper made 223 appearances in all competitions for 57 clean sheets. He has not played for a single club more in his career.
Steve Bruce could strike Jacob Murphy reunion with Newcastle raid
Bruce could strike a reunion with Jacob Murphy by raiding his former side Newcastle this summer to strengthen West Brom. The 27-year-old made 39 appearances under the now-Baggies boss during his spell in charge at St James’ Park as a versatile right-sided option.
Murphy featured at right-back, right-side midfield, right-wing and sparingly at left-forward under Bruce at Newcastle. He also showed strong defensive potential as a full-back, while still able to deliver a creative threat with a tricky final-third presence and ball into the box.
West Brom sparingly saw Murphy’s offensive threat while on loan from Benitez’s Magpies during the second-half of the 2018/19 season. He offered two goals and an assist over 15 games to help the Baggies reach the Championship play-offs, before losing to Aston Villa.
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