West Brom could punt for Wolves man if Schumacher gets top job
West Brom could open a new contacts book to strengthen the side if Steven Schumacher becomes the new manager at The Hawthorns.
A name many could be unfamiliar with who worked under Schumacher when he won the League One title with Plymouth Argyle in 2022-23 is Nigel Lonwijk.
The 22-year-old defender is on the books of bitter rivals Wolves, but is currently on loan at third tier promotion hopefuls Huddersfield Town and was a mainstay in Schumacher’s triumphant team from when he joined Argyle on loan as a teenager, scooping 101 points two years ago.
Schumacher, 40, was more recently at Stoke City and is the 6/1 second-favourite with Sky Bet as of Friday afternoon to succeed Carlos Corberan; Swansea City boss Luke Williams remains odds-on favourite despite mixed reports on his future.
West Brom could use Lonwijk if Schumacher joins
West Brom are in need of a centre-back, having lost several experienced heads over the summer and been having to contend with injuries.
At present, left-back Torbjorn Heggem has been drafted over into the centre of defence with outright utility man Callum Styles deployed on the left of the backline.
Paddy McNair’s spell at The Hawthorns has now concluded as he returns to San Diego, with the Baggies prioritising the recruitment of at least one additional defender this month.
Dutch youth international Lonwijk, standing at 6’5”, is physically adept for the EFL and has age on his side. His time with adversaries Wolves – whom he joined from PSV Eindhoven in 2020 – has acclimatised him to the Black Country.
While on loan at Huddersfield, Wolves will want him to progress for their own sake but should Albion appoint Schumacher – with whom Lonwijk played the most consistent football of his career to date – they could do worse than bothering their rivals with a serious offer.
In other West Brom news, a former Albion star could be heading to Wolves this month.
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