West Brom youngster Ethan Ingram could leave amid MK Dons and Oxford United interest
Ethan Ingram is a candidate to leave West Brom this summer and has already had multiple approaches from League One teams, The Athletic reports.
Steve Bruce needs to see some players go before he is able to add any more additions during the window, and the young defender is suggested as one since interest is high.
MK Dons and Oxford United have both already made contact with the 19-year-old, while there is further interest from the third tier.
Ingram has so far made a single senior appearance for the Baggies, with his debut coming in the early-season EFL Cup defeat to Arsenal last year.
Elias Burke writes in his latest article in The Athletic: “There is also speculation about the future of Ethan Ingram, who has fielded approaches from MK Dons and Oxford United among other League One clubs.
“If players are moved on, fans may see Bruce delve into his contact book.”
Loan bonus
The right-back could likely benefit from an extended run in senior football if interest is that high from the division below.
He looks to have reached his ceiling in Premier League 2 after amassing 24 appearances last season, delivering six assists in that time.
But for all the centre-back options in the first-team squad there aren’t an overload of right-sided operators for Bruce to use, so Ingram’s opportunities will depend largely on where the Albion manager intends to use Taylor Gardner-Hickman.
The youngster had a breakthrough campaign last season featuring mainly in midfield, but if he is seen as a right-back then playing time at the position will presumably be taken by him and Darnell Furlong.
Whether Bruce chooses to use four in defence or a wing-back system will also play a role, so if he doesn’t see regular chances to hand his talented youngster then a temporary move would make sense.
Selling him at this stage seems premature, unless somebody were to offer enough cash to open up avenues in the transfer market.
But while The Athletic report suggests that departures from the likes of Ingram or Callum Robinson could allow further arrivals it would surely be more likely if the latter left than the former, since the junior man is hardly going to free up a huge gap on the wage bill.
In other West Brom news, one former Albion player was delighted by what he heard from the latest arrival at the Hawthorns.