Three players Dean Smith could target if appointed West Brom manager

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The Aston Villa supporting Brentford manager has been linked with the West Bromwich Albion position, should Alan Pardew depart.

Brentford manager – and Aston Villa fan – Dean Smith is among those being mentioned as a possible replacement for Alan Pardew at West Bromwich Albion [Telegraph].

With eight points separating themselves from 17th-placed Southampton – and only eight games in which to rescue their season – the Championship beckons for the Baggies.

And Smith, who continues to work wonders with Brentford in England’s second tier, could be a shrewd Albion appointment should the worst happen.

Plenty of players have flourished under the 46-year-old’s wing – but could any of them follow to the Hawthorns?

Here’s three potential targets…

Chris Mepham [Brentford]

Relegation for West Brom would almost certainly lead to the departures of Jonny Evans and Craig Dawson – two players said to have attracted plenty of interest in recent months – while Gareth McAuley is out of contract. A new centre-half may therefore be among the new manager’s top priorities and Mepham, who was handed his debut by Smith last season, could prove a decent investment, both short- and long-term. The 20-year-old was a rumoured target for Premier League Bournemouth in January.

Romaine Sawyers [Brentford]

The West Brom academy product has played under Smith at two clubs, Walsall and Brentford, and has been responsible for four goals and as many assists this season. With Gareth Barry and Grzegorz Krychowiak also likely to depart – along with, perhaps, Claudio Yacob – if the Baggies go down, there could be hole for Sawyers to fill in B71, a prospect which may appeal to the Birmingham-born player.

Scott Hogan [Aston Villa]

Though not signed by Smith, it was under the Brentford boss that Hogan enjoyed the best form of his career – scoring 21 goals in 34 games. Things haven’t quite gone to plan since the striker’s £12 million move to Aston Villa, however, although he’s struck five times in his last 11 outings, and you’d fancy Smith to get the best out of Hogan once more, should Villa opt to shed him from their ranks this summer. West Brom could find themselves light in his position, with Daniel Sturridge due back at Liverpool, and Salomon Rondon and Jay Rodriguez both candidates to depart.