Josh Griffiths could leave West Brom on loan again next season – Steve Madeley
Josh Griffiths could leave West Brom on loan again this summer as Steve Bruce makes the decision on the club’s number one goalkeeper, according to Steve Madeley.
Baggies number one Sam Johnstone will leave the club on a free transfer at the end of his contract, leaving the club with a decision to make about their goalkeeper for next season.
According to Madeley for The Athletic on Monday morning [April 11], Bruce is currently planning to allow David Button and Alex Palmer to battle it out for the position which leaves Griffiths out of the equation.
Button’s contract is currently due to end at the end of the season too, but negotiations are ongoing for a new deal and if he stays then it’s unlikely Griffiths will be involved in the first-team picture.
Despite being ‘one of the most highly-rated goalkeepers from the academy’, Griffiths could still be seen as a year or two away from being number one which would see him leave on loan to continue to develop.
Development plan
It seems as though West Brom have got a long-term development plan in place for the 20-year-old shot stopper and they’re going to stick with it.
Griffiths will undoubtedly believe that he is capable of stepping into the role of number one, but Bruce has had a much closer look at both Button and Palmer and they will be in pole position.
The manager’s position isn’t quite safe yet however and that could potentially see the situation change, but as it stands it seems unlikely Griffiths would get that opportunity.
Bringing in another goalkeeper would only further exasperate that, but Button isn’t a spring chicken and Palmer’s current contract is due to expire in 2023 so there is plenty of opportunity ahead to.
The important thing is that Griffiths isn’t left to stagnate and stall this season, and is allowed to play regularly whether it’s at The Hawthorns or elsewhere.
In other West Brom news, Steve Bruce wants reunion with Premier League ace this summer – report
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