Ryan Mason ‘urged to make Maja call’ as West Brom transfer latest emerges
Josh Maja is facing an uncertain future at West Brom this summer.
The Nigerian forward was the Baggies’ top scorer last season with 12 goals in the Championship but struggled with injuries.
The 26-year-old missed the final four months of the campaign with a leg injury and could only watch on as The Hawthorns outfit missed out on the playoffs.
Maja has attracted significant interest from the likes of Real Betis and Celta Vigo, and Albion may face a battle to keep hold of him.
Hendrie urges West Brom to keep Maja
When he is fit and firing, Maja can be a huge weapon for new Baggies boss Ryan Mason, as he looks to improve the fortunes in the Black Country.
Former Aston Villa striker and Sky Sports pundit Lee Hendrie has urged Albion to keep hold of the former Sunderland attacker.
Speaking to Football League World (4 July), he said: “I think West Brom need to keep hold of their strikers.
“That’s the thing with Albion, looking over seasons, they haven’t had a real prolific guy who’s been able to step up and really kick them on if anything.
“That’s an area where it’s always been quite evident for me that they’ve either had to strengthen, they’ve had injuries there and haven’t been able to fulfil that role.
“I think they have to try and keep hold of him, I really do. If they can build and produce good players in and around him, which they have got – I think it’s quite clear they do try and keep hold of him for sure.”
West Brom must support Maja
Maja is entering the final year of his deal, and it remains to be seen whether his stay in the West Midlands will be extended.
The priority must be to get him back to full fitness, as he is a deadly striker in the second tier when he is on form, as was shown in the first half of the last campaign.
However, if he struggles, then sporting director Andrew Nestor and Co must have someone waiting in the wings, and it looks like they are trying to do that.
The Throstles are closing in on Norwegian forward Aune Heggebø, who has notched seven goals in 13 matches in the Eliteserien, which runs from March to November.
That would allow Maja to concentrate on his recovery, rather than rushing back to lead the line once the new season starts.
The hope will be that the ex-Bordeaux man returns with a vengeance, keen to make up for lost time and fire the Baggies back to the Premier League.
If Mason has two quality frontmen at his disposal, it will help Maja, and it should also help to secure a playoff berth at the very least.
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