Report details West Brom plans in key position with new addition unlikely
West Brom will enter the new Premier League season with Kieran Gibbs as their number-one choice left-back.
The Baggies welcome Leicester City to the Hawthorns on Sunday, and Gibbs will likely start that despite his future looking unlikely in pre-season.
It was reported that the 31-year-old would be allowed to leave the Baggies, with his wages doubling to £55,000-a-week after promotion.
With his injury record packed with constant problems, the Albion couldn’t find another side to take the risk with Gibbs, but they are looking to make it work either way.
The Athletic journalist Steve Madeley has claimed that Gibbs will be the number-one choice, with Conor Townsend and Dara O’Shea as his “understudies”.
It was made clear that Bilic wanted a new left-back to replace him, and will have their fingers crossed that he can complete a 38-game Premier League season.
Many Baggies fans will be disheartened by this news, but Madeley went to point out later that Gibbs has had a superb pre-season this summer.
Last season, the England international only started 14 games in the Championship – compared to the previous two which he easily completed more than 30 outings.
Gibbs suffered from a number of hamstring problems last season, and that is a guaranteed five to six weeks out if it happens again.
The Baggies will need to rely on Townsend if that problem reoccurs and that could be a nightmare. The 27-year-old has never played above the Championship, and he could get exposed.
Only time will tell.
In other West Brom news, the Baggies agree deal in principle to sign forward
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