Kealan Hughes

Tue 27 April 2021 18:15, UK

Branislav Ivanovic and Kieran Gibbs may have played their final games for West Brom after an injury update from Sam Allardyce.

Both players’ contracts expire in the summer and Gibbs has already agreed a move to Inter Miami.

Journalist Neil Moxley reports Ivanovic is likely to leave too [Sunday People print edition, April 25], and an injury issue means he may struggle to return to action this season.

Allardyce said of his condition, via BirminghamLive, “Branislav will be out for a long time, we think.

“We will have to assess it week-by-week, but certainly at the moment it looks like it’s going to be a long period.”

As for Gibbs, injury and a lack of form mean he has been excluded from the pitch since the end of January.

Lee Peltier has jumped above Gibbs in the pecking order so it is unlikely the 31-year-old will feature at The Hawthorns again.

No big loss

This summer a rebuilding process needs to take place and getting rid of older higher earners like Gibbs and Ivanovic is the way forward.

The pair have barely contributed this term with 23 league appearances between them and they have rightly been dropped from the starting line up.

We will be able to put their wages to better use, hopefully to sign young and hungry players with a point to prove.

Both Gibbs and Ivanovic enjoyed the best spells of their careers prior to joining West Brom, and showed no real motivation to get better during their time with us.

There will be no tears shed for their departures as a result, and Big Sam is likely glad to see the back of them.

Both arrived with big expectations but failed to live up to the hype, and it would be good if our transfer strategy was adjusted so that we avoid similar mistakes in future.

In other West Brom news, Sky Sports pundit tears into ‘Daft’ West Brom ace over display in 2-2 draw with Aston Villa.

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