By George Overhill

17th Nov, 2023 | 8:40am

Omari Hutchinson left in the dark by 'mentally frustrating' failed West Brom move ahead of meeting as Ipswich Town player

Omari Hutchinson has admitted that his failed loan move to West Brom last January left him “a bit down” over the “mentally frustrating” episode.

The Chelsea youngster told The Athletic (16 November) he had been in the car on his way to the Baggies in last season’s winter window before he was told to turn back, and is in the dark as to why, as he prepares to face the club at The Hawthorns as an Ipswich Town player after the international break (25 November).

The Athletic have previously reported that the deal fell through in part due to Swansea waiting until the last minute to move for Karlan Grant, in another loan which ultimately collapsed, despite tracking him throughout the month, while Chelsea were heavily focused on signing Enzo Fernandez at the same time.

Hutchinson said: “I was making my way up on the motorway when it all broke down. I was in the car with my brother, signing the papers on DocuSign on my phone. But not long into the drive, we were told to turn around. I am not too sure why. It was not the best.

“It was frustrating for me. I tried my best to get in the right mindset for the under-21s after that, but I was a bit down. It was mentally frustrating. I thought I was going to be playing in the Championship. But it has all worked out now — I’m just grateful to be at Ipswich now.”

Disappointment

Carlos Corberan was let down once by being unable to land Hutchinson and with the Jamaica international increasingly establishing himself at Portman Road, in a side which has only been beaten once this season, it certainly suggests he could have contributed at The Hawthorns.

The West Brom boss will hope he doesn’t do so in the next game as he looks to get his side back on track after a close loss to Southampton.

It won’t get any easier for the Baggies with the visit of the team who are level on points with first-placed Leicester City, with the Foxes also on the horizon after Grant’s Cardiff City.

Kieran McKenna’s side are breaking records for a promoted outfit and are currently 13 points ahead of West Brom, with Hutchinson having scored once and assisted three from 15 Championship appearances.

Since Grant is not at The Hawthorns any longer as it is, since his summer loan to the other side of the South Wales rivalry, it may be even more of a frustration that the Stamford Bridge youngster never made it to the Midlands nearly a year ago.

He will be looking to show Corberan what he missed out on when squads return from international duty, while the Spaniard will be hoping to have some players back from injury, including John Swift and Josh Maja, for a heavyweight run of fixtures.

In other West Brom news, the Baggies have been tipped for a “huge” transfer market boost on the back of a potential takeover timeframe.