West Brom: Kyle Bartley earns new contract with recent displays at The Hawthorns
Following the takeover of Shilen Patel, the attention at West Brom has shifted to the players out-of-contract at the end of the season, and Kyle Bartley stands out among them.
The defender has been somewhat of a mainstay in Carlos Corberan’s side this season and has surely earned an extension of his current deal with those performances.
Players also out of contract include the likes of Matt Phillips, Cedric Kipre and Alex Mowatt, so with not long left until the end of the season, Patel will have some decisions to make before long.
Bartley, whose return to the starting line-up has been hailed as “phenomenal” by Express & Star journalist Jonny Drury [11 March], is among those in contention.
Could Kyle Bartley sign a new contract at West Brom?
There is a recognised need to trim the wage bill at The Hawthorns, with players signing new deals expected to take pay cuts to stay at the club and others expected to leave upon the end of their current deals.
Bartley ranks among those who will need to take a pay cut, as shared previously by Action For Albion, but after his performances this season, Albion must make sure he stays.
Having scored in the 4-1 victory against Huddersfield, Bartley proved to be one of the most impressive players on the pitch, as he also made seven clearances and one tackle to prove his worth at the back. [Sofascore]
The defender also displayed a 91 per cent pass success rate, and a 100 per cent ground duel success rate, as well as winning four of his five aerial duels in a performance which saw him dominate the opposition attackers.
Overall this season, Bartley has recorded an average of 3.7 clearances, 2.9 recoveries and a 68 per cent win rate in duels, all per 90, with his 23 starts proving how key he has been to Corberan’s defensive unit. The boss will be hoping he sticks around beyond this summer.
In other West Brom news, Tony Brown slammed one Baggies star after what he did v Huddersfield.
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