‘West Brom ready to accept Kyle Bartley bid’ as he misses training
West Brom are showing signs of progress under Ryan Mason.
The Baggies squad have played a couple of pre-season friendlies, and there is already evidence of the team adapting to how the new manager wants them to play.
However, Kyle Bartley is one player who is looking less likely to be involved this season, and it seems he may be on his way out of The Hawthorns before the new campaign even begins.
Bartley ‘will be allowed to leave West Brom’
Bartley’s future at The Hawthorns has been questioned for most of the summer, and especially since the Baggies signed Nat Phillips.
It’s believed that Torbjorn Heggem will partner Phillips in the centre of defence this season, leaving Bartley surplus to requirements.
The 34-year-old didn’t travel with the team to their training camp in Austria, which suggests that he isn’t in Mason’s plans and will be allowed to leave.
Now, this has been all but confirmed after DOOD, an ex-journalist who has established a reputation as a reliable insider at The Hawthorns, shared an update via X on Tuesday (15 July).
Commenting on Bartley’s absence from training, he said: “Barts, if an offer comes for him, he’s off”.
West Brom are right to move on from Bartley
Bartley has been a good servant for West Brom, but the time is right for him to move on.
He’s 34 years old with one year left on his contract. If the Baggies want to secure a transfer fee for him, they must surely sell him this summer.
Based on what’s already happened this summer, the centre-half seems unlikely to nail down a starting place under Mason. He wasn’t at his best last season, despite making 31 appearances. Therefore, a move is best for both parties.
| Kyle Bartley West Brom statistics | |
| Signed | July 2018 |
| Appearances | 232 |
| Goals | 15 |
In a perfect world, Bartley would deserve a good send-off at The Hawthorns before he leaves. He has been a key feature of the Baggies’ defence since 2018.
Sadly, football doesn’t always work that way. Instead, it appears he’s being frozen out while he looks for another club. Either way, Mason has a clear strategy of relying on hungry, young players. Based on that strategy, it’s right to move from Bartley this summer.
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