‘Why he came’ – Allardyce states reason behind West Brom January transfer coup
Sam Allardyce has confirmed that Ainsley Maitland-Niles will be utilised in his favoured central midfield position after his deadline-day loan move to West Brom.
Maitland-Niles was linked with a host of Premier League clubs including Southampton and Newcastle United but ended up at The Hawthorns in a deal that went to the wire.
There has been much speculation as to where the 22-year-old will play for the Baggies but Big Sam has revealed in no uncertain terms where he will line up.
As reported by the Birmingham Mail, Allardyce told the media at his pre-Tottenham press conference that Maitland-Niles will operate in central midfield: “It’s why he came to West Brom. We’re playing him in the position he wants to play, and his most favourite position.
“It’s one of the reasons why he chose the Albion.”
Sunday’s clash with Spurs looks likely to be where Maitland-Niles makes his debut and he will relish such a fixture given his North-London ties.
Options aplenty for Albion
Quite where this puts a number of existing Albion midfielders remains to be seen.
Romaine Sawyers, Jake Livermore and Conor Gallagher have been the favoured trio this season, with all starting the majority of their 22 games (Sawyers – 16, Livermore and Gallagher – both 15).
However the former two in particular have failed to impress and look like certain casualties, particularly with defensive midfielder Okay Yokuslu brought in on loan from Celta Vigo.
After Allardyce’s comments it looks certain that Yokuslu and Maitland-Niles will be lining up in the middle of midfield but it will be interesting to see whether he operates them as a duo in a 4-2-3-1 or perhaps throws Gallagher in to make it a 4-3-3 with the Turkey international holding the fort while the other bomb up and down the pitch.
Such an occurrence would be peculiar for one special reason – none of them are actually permanently contracted to Albion.
They are all loanees hailing from Celta Vigo, Arsenal and Chelsea and this really lays bare the rather limited resources at The Hawthorns.
This will be a deep concern for next season with all three leaving the club with permanent deals unlikely unless Albion pull off a miraculous escape, and even then transfers could be difficult to compete.
For now though, let’s sit back and enjoy what looks like being a dynamic and exciting midfield trio that might actually get us off our seats.
After putting up with the one-paced duo of Livermore and Sawyers this will be some much-needed light relief.
In other West Brom news, £40k p/w Albion ace set for exit.
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