Who would have imagined that hiring a meticulous coach obsessed with the finest of fine details could have such an immediate impact on West Brom’s hitherto-ailing season? Isn’t it funny how things work out?
In 11 games since the Baggies sacked Steve Bruce and brought in Carlos Corberan, West Brom have been on the winning side on no fewer than eight occasions.
In three months, they’ve gone from 22nd – their lowest place in the English football pyramid for two decades – and up to ninth. Michael Carrick’s Middlesbrough are not the only Championship club looking to emulate Nottingham Forest’s remarkable resurgence in 2021/22; from relegation candidates to promotion dark horses in the blinking of an eye.
West Brom on the rise under Carlos Corberan
Corberan, then, is understandably thrilled with his current lot. Not that the former Huddersfield Town and Leeds United coach is leaving anything to chance, admitting that he would welcome the addition of further players capable of adding extra strength in depth at the Hawthorns.
“When the players are competing well, it’s not easy to add players of extra value to help compete. At the same time, always as an ambitious and big club, you always need to see if you can strengthen the team or not,” Corberan tells the Express and Star.
“If we think it’s something that can switch us (to another level), then perfect.”
Exactly how much Corberan will have to spend, in his first window as West Brom boss, remains to be seen. The Telegraph believe that ‘major’ January additions are unlikely, given those well-publicised off-field issues. Then again, this does not feel like a West Brom side in need of marquee signings or extensive reconstruction. A lick of paint is required here or there, rather than anything too substantial. West Brom do, after all, have one of the best and deepest squads in the division.
A Huddersfield reunion at the Hawthorns?
There are a few areas where new faces would be welcome, however, with central midfield one of them. West Brom, per The Sun’s Alan Nixon, are keeping tabs on Portsmouth powerhouse Jay Mingi, one of League One’s breakthrough talents.
“Jay is talented and can be whatever he wants to be,” says former Pompey boss Danny Cowley. “He has some attributes such as pace, power, the ability to cover the ground and put fires out.
“He’s very good in the defensive transition. And we are working hard on his technical ability off both feet; passing skills, his tactical understanding of how to receive the ball, and how to find his own space.”
Mingi’s all-action, high-energy style makes him a perfect fit for Corberan’s West Brom. Ditto Jon Russell and Lewis O’Brien; both of whom played a key role in Huddersfield’s shock promotion charge under the Spaniard last season. Russell is out of contract in the summer. O’Brien, meanwhile, could be available on loan, having started just six Premier League games since joining Nottingham Forest for £10 million last summer (The Sun).
As such, both Russell and O’Brien would be low-cost, low-risk additions in keeping with West Brom’s rather limited budget. Okay Yokuslu and Jayson Molumby would take some shifting, but 33-year-old back-up Jake Livermore is no longer the force of old. O’Brien, Mingi or Russell would give Corberan the option to rotate without having to fear a drop-off in performance in the centre of the park.
From Brighton to the Baggies
Keep an eye on Scotland international Ryan Porteous too. Like Russell, the versatile defender is set to leave Hibernian imminently with his contract running down. Porteous, who can play in defensive midfield as well as at centre-half, could replace Kean Bryan, while Kyle Bartley turns 32 in May. Porteous will not extend his stay at Easter Road, and would seemingly welcome a move to England’s second tier.
Cover at centre-forward would be welcome too; Daryl Dike injury prone and Kenneth Zohore likely to depart sooner rather than later. Davie Selke, a summer target for West Brom, has since joined Koln for free. Blackpool’s Jerry Yates, meanwhile, may be too costly at a rumoured £5 million.
18-year-old Evan Ferguson has made a real impact since forcing his way into the first-team picture at Brighton – scoring against Arsenal and shining in the 4-1 thumping of Everton – but regular first-team football on loan at a Championship club could do wonders for his development. Per the Daily Mail, West Brom, Burnley, Swansea, Blackburn Rovers and more all are keen on Ferguson; an old-school, 6ft 2ins throwback in the Dike mould.
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