West Brom must make Zac Ashworth decision amid contract update at The Hawthorns
Carlos Corberan has a decision to make on West Brom left-back Zac Ashworth.
The Baggies recently published their released and retained lists for the 2023/24 campaign via their official website (22 May).
Understandably, the headlines were dominated by Matty Phillips’ release and new deals being offered to Cedric Kipre and Alex Mowatt.
News about the youth players flew under the radar, but Corberan does have an important decision to make regarding one of those players.
As part of the list, West Brom revealed that Ashworth would be returning to The Hawthorns following his season-long loan spell in EFL League One with Bolton Wanderers.
He has not been offered fresh terms, which means his contract with the Baggies is still set to expire in 2025.
That means he has just one year left to earn himself a new deal with his boyhood club.
Carlos Corberan should take a closer look at West Brom defender Zac Ashworth
Having come through the ranks at West Brom, Ashworth has so far made just six appearances at senior level for the club.
And while his loan spell with Bolton wasn’t the most productive, he did show some signs of promise.
Ashworth only managed 16 League One appearances totaling just 618 minutes. However, while his time on the pitch was limited, when he did play, he looked good.
Ashworth scored twice and provided two assists in the league while playing predominantly as a left-midfielder, with his first goal arriving for the club in a 4-1 victory away at Carlisle United (27 January).
As per Sofascore, that day Ashworth also grabbed an assist, played three key passes, won four ground duels, and made three tackles.
His second goal for the club arrived in a 1-1 draw with Barnsley (3 February). On this occasion, Ashworth played five key passes, won 80 per cent of his ground duels and played four accurate crosses into the box from six attempts.
While it wasn’t a loan spell to write home about, there were some moments of promise.
And with a year remaining on his deal, Corberan should take some time to decide what is next for the 21-year-old.
In other West Brom news, supporters will be delighted after an Okay Yokuşlu announcement.
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