Goodman backs West Brom’s rivals to pull off coup for ace fans didn’t want to leave
West Brom are set for huge competition in their race for promotion next season.
Relegated sides Ipswich Town, Leicester City and Southampton are all expected to be in the race for an instant Premier League return, whilst Sheffield United will hope for vengeance after mere minutes separated them from promotion last season.
New West Brom head coach Ryan Mason will hope to place his Baggies side among the front runners, with Albion looking to return to the Premier League after what will be five years in the second tier.
Kipre linked with Ipswich Town move
Ipswich are reportedly looking to strike a loan agreement for former West Brom defender Cedric Kipre, with the move to be made permanent should the Tractor Boys go straight back up.
The Ivory Coast international spent four years with the Baggies, but was loaned out twice before establishing himself as a first-choice defender in the 2023/24 season and winning the club’s Player of the Season award.
But a new deal could not be agreed and Kipre left the West Midlands club, joining Reims on a free transfer ahead of the 2024/25 season.
| Cedric Kipre | Championship (2023/24) |
| Appearances | 44 |
| Clean sheets | 17 |
The 28-year-old is now set to return to the Championship, and former Baggies striker Don Goodman told Football League World (July 11) that the move makes a lot of sense.
“It bolsters their defensive ranks, they already have quite a number of central defenders on the books so there’ll be more competition for places,” he said.
“A good, solid Championship defender, who obviously his last season in the Championship with West Bromwich Albion a couple of seasons ago, played every single game and looked really good.”
“I know West Brom and the fans were particularly disappointed to lose him at the end of his contract.”
Kipre set for another Championship spell
Kipre’s departure was indeed a disappointment given the circumstances, but Albion have long since moved on.
The defender was rock-solid for West Brom in his last season at the club, appearing in all but two of the Baggies’ matches as they finished fifth.
Kipre was rightly awarded the Player of the Season award on behalf of both the players and the supporters, after an impressive campaign.
But ultimately, the 28-year-old decided to leave West Brom of his own volition, when a contract that would have seen his stay extended was on the table.
For some fans, that choice was final and Kipre has made his bed, in which he must now lie.
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