West Brom’s summer transfer talks are complete – this is their squad now and the players still set to return
The average age of West Bromwich Albion’s squad has dropped by around a year in the summer transfer window.
Albion have said goodbye to Jake Livermore, Tom Rogic, Marc Albrighton and David Button – all of whom are at least 30 years old.
Compare that to their three new signings – Jeremy Sarmiento (21), Josh Maja (24) and Pipa (25).
Carlos Corberan and the club’s recruitment team often use the summer to trim the margins of a rather bloated squad; The foursome leave alongside Kean Bryan, Karlan Grant, Taylor Gardner-Hickman and a host of academy products who have left on loan, as well as the big-money sale of Dara O’Shea to Burnley .
Albion currently have 20 genuine first-team players currently fit, a figure that has been helpfully supplemented by the addition of newly promoted young duo Caleb Taylor and Tom Fellows, who are regulars in the squad one until this season and has been retained.
arrived at the club while others were loaned out on deadline day.
On top of that, the Baggies and Corberan currently have three players out who they are waiting to return, although in all of these cases patience will be required; Adam Reach and Daryl Dike are unlikely to feature until the end of the new year, while Martin Kelly suffered a serious injury in January and he will also need a bit more time before he can return.
All three came from the academy and all three are now senior goalkeepers.
Following Button’s departure, Cann was promoted to third-choice goalkeeper.
Palmer now owns gloves that were earned through years of hard work and patience.
Albion certainly need to improve defensively – they have scored twice in five of their six games so far.
Corberan appears to have chosen Ajayi and Kipre, although for now the left-third position is in flux – as is Townsend’s role in this XI, once selected.
Meanwhile, a new battle is expected to take place on the right flank between Furlong and rookie Pipa.
Yokuslu and Molumby continue to pick each other, even if the former’s form is a bit worrying.
Corberan seems happy with the options in Chalobah and Mowatt, although neither has contributed enough to warrant and win a starting spot.
Corberan is happy to let Taylor Gardner-Hickman join Bristol City.
Albion, even if Reach were injury-free, still have plenty of options to choose from when it comes to placing players either side of the strikers, in this 3-4-3 system.
Phillips has again become an important figure and is now holding off Townsend at full-back, but Sarmiento must now wait his turn behind the experienced pair of Wallace and Swift.
Diangana is also back, while Fellows’ championship experience is limited.
Thomas-Asante is currently the club’s number one choice.
Corberan was able to fly between himself and Dike last fall and winter, before the