Credit: Imago

Niall Togher

Thu 26 June 2025 7:00, UK

Ryan Mason desperately needs another striker before the start of the new season.

Adam Armstrong looked to be a phenomenal signing on paper last season when the Albion secured his services on loan.

However, Armstrong did not live up to expectations, effectively ruling out any possibility of the Englishman returning to the Black Country.

Josh Maja looked good when he played, but he missed a large chunk of the season.

Will Lankshear failed to score during his loan spell at The Hawthorns from Tottenham, meanwhile, and Daryl Dike was also unable to play for most of the season.

In other words, the striker position at West Brom needs to be addressed, and quickly, before the next campaign.

West Brom to turn to Lankshear after waiting for Shankland

Shankland looked as though he may be an option to help lead the line for West Brom as they look to secure promotion.

The deal for the Scottish forward looks to have stalled. Despite West Brom having a contract proposal on the table for Shankland, he is currently assessing his options with multiple clubs from Saudi Arabia also showing interest in the 29-year-old.

This has led to fresh reports linking Tottenham gem Lankshear with a return to The Hawthorns.

With West Brom facing PSR issues, it seems unlikely that they would sign both Shankland and Lankshear in the same window if Dike and Maja were both to remain at the club.

Having four strikers would seem like a poor use of resources, especially when other areas, such as the midfield, need to be addressed at The Hawthorns.

Given Lankshear’s age and the way his last loan spell went, it is hard to imagine Mason relying upon the 20-year-old to be his first-choice striker.

This is good news for Dike, who could be in line for one last chance under the new manager if the American can keep himself consistently available for selection.

Mason could get the best out of Lankshear

With Mason knowing Lankshear from their time at Tottenham Hotspur together, he could be the one to get the best out of the young forward.

Despite Lankshear not registering a goal or an assist in his first spell at West Brom, certain sections of the fanbase believe he was not utilised correctly and deserves a second chance in the Black Country.

If Shankland opts to accept one of the lucrative offers from Saudi Arabia and West Brom keep both Maja and Dike, Lankshear could be a relatively cheap solution to provide Mason with much-needed depth up top.