View: How West Brom XI might look for first game back in PL if they sign six reported targets
West Brom face a bit of a makeover in the summer transfer window after winning promotion back to the Premier League.
While they impressed for large spells of the Championship season, it would be wrong to suggest that Slaven Bilic’s squad, as it stands, is good enough to survive for more than one year in the top-flight.
Based on transfer reports we have read over the last few weeks, we have come up with a starting line-up which could be named by Bilic if he manages to land some of his reported targets.
Starting at the back, we expect goalkeeper Sam Johnstone to keep his spot in the side while the lack of amazing centre-back links suggests Semi Ajayi and Ahmed Hegazi might be starting in the Premier League next term.
However, the full-back slots could be improved with free agent Jeremy Ngakia [ExWHUemployee] coming in at right-back after his exit from West Ham while Wigan’s left-back Antonee Robinson could also be signed [Birmingham Mail].
Romaine Sawyers and Jake Livermore were mainstays of the central midfield positions this season and that could stay the same going into next term with Sawyers in the playmaker role and captain Livermore adding the defensive steel.
In the attack is where things get interesting.
Matheus Pereira is expected to sign a four-year contract [Notícias ao Minuto] after a successful loan spell at The Hawthorns and is bound to be in the number 10 slot.
Bright Osayi-Samuel has impressed at QPR this season and has caught the eye of the Baggies [Express & Star]. He did seem as though he was set to sign for Club Brugge but instead started against Albion last week and might still be up for grabs for Bilic to name on the right-wing.
As for the left-wing, this is the one that all West Brom supporters are praying for – Grady Diangana.
It is going to be difficult to sign Diangana, 22, again from West Ham after such a strong season on loan at The Hawthorns but that doesn’t mean a deal is impossible and Bilic is trying to sign him [Daily Star].
Up front is where things get difficult because, as of yet, the Baggies have not really been linked with anyone too convincing.
But, someone who has reportedly caught the eye of Albion – and of us – is Huddersfield striker Karlan Grant. As it stands, the Baggies are favourites to sign the striker [TeamTalk] after he scored 19 Championship goals this season.
Is that starting line-up strong enough to keep West Brom in the Premier League next season? Of course, a lot can happen between now and September 12 when the campaign kicks off but at the moment, that seems like a possible starting line-up for Bilic’s first game back in the top-flight.
In other West Brom news, Daryl Burgess has urged the club to sign this 32-year-old striker.
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