George Overhill

Sun 7 January 2024 10:10, UK

The January transfer window at West Brom “worries” Don Goodman as he fears Premier League clubs will look at the recent record of loanees and opt against doing deals on their emerging talent.

The Sky Sports pundit said, via Football League World (6 January), that the lack of action for the likes of Jeremy Sarmiento, Pipa, and Marc Albrighton under Carlos Corberan might make top flight sides think twice about lending their “top youngsters”.

While the ex-Baggies striker had a lot of praise for the current boss for operating in a “very difficult place” he also worries that the current financial issues might make it impossible to address needs in attack.

Goodman said: “They’re in a very difficult place. First of all, I have got to give credit to Carlos Corberan and for getting them where he’s got them in the face of adversity because they’ve got no money.

“They’ve only brought in a couple of loans, obviously Jeremy Sarmiento was one, and I think Pipa is another one.

“I remember this time last year, Marc Albrighton came in but he only made eight starts. Sarmiento has only made seven and Pipa has only made one. That worries me about how they’ll convince Premier League clubs to let them have their top youngsters because loan players haven’t really been given an opportunity and that might go against them.

“They’ve got a really established experienced starting XI, who are really adept at carrying out Carlos Corberan’s tactical plans and they are masterful in the main because I’ve got to be honest, I don’t think West Bromwich Albion are the best team in this league. I think there are better teams below them.

“Tactically they’re on point and with the experience that they’ve got, they know how to stop teams. They’ve got the second-best defence in the league behind Leicester so they don’t have issues at that end of the pitch.

“But they’ve lost Sarmiento, they’re going to lose Grady Diangana to AFCON, and although they’ve got young players like Tom Fellows, who I really like, that wide forward area is one that they need to look at.

“The worry for me is their financial constraints and whether they can attract the best of the Premier League’s youngsters. It’s not going to be easy.”

Tough task

West Brom are thought to be looking at the likes of Andrey Santos at Chelsea [HITC, 3 January] as they try to strengthen during the winter window, but if they can’t ensure opportunities it will be difficult.

It is true that recent loans haven’t had a major impact, but with more and more injury blows cropping up through the season Corberan is surely going to have to rely on some new arrivals whether he wants to or not.

Based on overall work he has done at The Hawthorns there is reason to believe that plenty of players and clubs would be interested in benefiting from it.

Having the Albion fifth in the Championship table at this stage of the season despite the extensive injury list and the financial constraints can’t be underestimated.

Now, if the club are able to bring in some much-needed reinforcements in key areas before the transfer deadline then a play-off spot is very much on the cards this season.

It can’t be overlooked that West Brom are operating from anything but a position of strength in the window, but Corberan and his staff have impressed in uphill battles throughout their time at the club so perhaps they can do so again here and secure some important new options for the squad.

In other West Brom news, the club remain concerned by a fitness mystery after scans revealed no injury explanation.