A pair of teenage talents could play a big part in Valerien Ismael’s plans at West Bromwich Albion next season, with The Athletic reporting that Ethan Ingram and Taylor Gardner-Hickman have caught the eye.
With funds tight at The Hawthorns – it is understood that those parachute payments will be offset by the losses incurred during a year in lockdown – West Brom will need to box clever in the final few weeks of the transfer window.
Ismael needs to sell before he can buy.
And that is not ideal, given that Albion arguably need a new centre-forward, a commanding centre-half, a box-to-box midfielder as well as cover in both full-back positions.
The new Championship season kicks off with a trip to Bournemouth on August 6.
As it stands, Darnell Furlong is the club’s only right-back while Conor Townsend is also severely lacking in competition on the opposite flank.
Will Valerien Ismael hand debuts to two West Brom youngsters?
So if both Ingram and Gardner-Hickman can immediately adapt to life in the harsh world of senior football, that would come as a major boost for Ismael, allowing him to get some credit in the bank by blooding a pair of exciting youngsters while saving funds for a prolific number nine or a powerhouse defender.
18-year-old Ingram has been part of West Brom’s academy since the age of just 12.
The England youth star has plenty of admirers behind the scenes at The Hawthorns too; those thundering forays down the right-hand side making him an impressive attacking outlet from full-back.
Gardner-Hickman, 19, could also make his senior debut under Ismael, having been included in the matchday squad four times during the final few weeks of the ill-fated Sam Allardyce reign.
Taylor-Hickman is renowned for his impressive crossing ability and, should he take his game to the next level under Ismael, Townsend will not be able to rest on his laurels for long.
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