By Anthony Onifade

16th Nov, 2023 | 4:10pm

Grady Diangana faces critical West Brom exit dilemma after latest DR Congo international snub v Mauritania

West Brom star Grady Diangana has enjoyed a rapid renaissance in recent weeks but still finds his game-time limited at international level for DR Congo which could force a critical exit dilemma.

The Baggies signed the fleet-footed Frenchman from West Ham on a permanent basis in 2020 following a productive loan spell but throughout his three-year spell at the Baggies, he’s flattered to deceive on several occasions, registering just 17 goals and 14 assists from 135 appearances at The Hawthorns [Transfermakt].

However, in recent weeks, the 25-year-old has showcased his worth again, registering two goals and three assists in his last six stars for West Brom.

Before that spell, the fleet-footed forward was enduring a tough start to the campaign. played a total of six games (three starts), registered just one assist, two big chances created, averaging 0.8 key passes, 1.5 shots and just 0.2 accurate crosses per game [SofaScore] – stats which Carlos Corberan will not have been particularly impressed by.

It’s no wonder why the former West Ham man has seen his contributions and influence soar at The Hawthorns in recent weeks, and that’s partly down to the new role the Spanish coach has provided him – as one of his two frontmen in a 3-5-2 shape.

Such renewed confidence and form could certainly have done him some good at international level for DR Congo for their upcoming international fixture against Mauritania on Wednesday night (15 November).

However, the Baggies man was nowhere to be seen as his teammates eased to a 2-0 victory. In their previous international fixture against New Zealand (13 October), Diangana started on the bench.

But, this latest snub will certainly worry the West Brom man as he will certainly have felt his form will have warranted him his first start for his country.

This could well lead Diangana to question what he will have to do to get starts for DR Congo, does he have to leave West Brom if they fail to get out of the Championship for next season and target Premier League football in order to force his way into Congo’s long-term plans? Or will he fast-track that decision in January?

It’s no secret that the Albion are in financial peril right now and Diangana was long touted as one of the key stars in the squad that West Brom were open to a potential multi-million-pound departure (Sunday People, 11 June, page 61) to accumulate some much-needed cash injection.

His contract is up in two years’ time [Transfermarkt] and so far there have been no talks regarding an extension but right now, given his international situation, Diangana will certainly be facing a critical exit dilemma at The Hawthorns soon enough.

In other West Brom news, the Baggies are reportedly closer than ever before under Guochuan Lai to a takeover