West Bromwich Albion are now the clear favourites to sign Alex Mowatt after hiring his former Barnsley coach Valerien Ismael as Sam Allardyce’s replacement, as reported by the Express and Star.
When reports emerged linking the out-of-contract Tykes captain with a move to The Hawthorns, you’d imagine that the reaction from many in South Yorkshire would have been one of glum resignation – a case of worst fears being realised.
The Barnsley fanbase always knew this day was coming.
And, sure enough, those ‘Mowatt to West Brom’ fears could be realised, especially now that the man who turned him into one of the Championship’s finest midfielders is earning his trade at The Hawthorns.
West Brom finally brought an end to their managerial search last week, bringing in Ismael on a four-year contract some five weeks after Allardyce’s exit.
And, according to the Express and Star, West Brom could now return to Oakwell for a 26-year-old free agent too.
Mowatt, the former Leeds United youngster who has grown into a man a few miles down the road, is a target for numerous Championship clubs.
But the presence of Ismael on the West Brom touchline means that, at this stage, it would be a surprise if Mowatt wasn’t wearing navy and white when 2020/21 kicks off.
Valerien Ismael and Alex Mowatt reunited at West Brom?
Ismael described Mowatt as a “model professional” recently, handing the play-maker the captain’s armband for all but two of Barnsley’s Championship fixtures from October to May.
With eight goals and seven assists – a highly impressive tally from a central midfield player – Mowatt also produced the best form of his career under the former Wolfsburg and LASK Linz coach.
The Yorkshireman’s arrival will strengthen a midfield hit hard by the departures of loan trio Conor Gallagher, Okay Yokuslu and Ainsley Maitland-Niles, all of whom bid farewell after West Brom’s relegation in May.
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