West Brom summer signings rated – 10/10 star a masterstroke, 5/10 underwhelming
West Brom ended the summer transfer window with nine new faces added to their ranks.
Ryan Mason’s arrival in the dugout was always likely to bring about something of an overhaul within the squad, and the Baggies have undergone a steady and methodical transition this summer.
The deadline day arrivals of Charlie Taylor and Samuel Iling-Junior have boosted West Brom, who now have a well-rounded unit as they prepare to enter the bulk of the Championship campaign.
With that in mind, West Brom News assesses the quality of the summer business by rating each and every new signing out of 10.
Nat Phillips to lead watertight West Brom defence
Torbjorn Heggem’s departure from West Brom was always likely to have a major effect on their defence, which was so impressive last time out.
The Norwegian missed just one league game last term, and was crucial to his side’s excellent defensive record.
However, Nat Phillips, who signed for just £3million from Liverpool, appears to have filled the boots of the outgoing star already.
The former Derby County loanee is the perfect Championship centre-back, rugged, aerially dominant and a strong reader of the game. He is already proving to be an excellent acquisition, and at just £3m, that looks to be nothing short of a masterstroke.
| Player | Signed From | Rating |
| Nat Phillips | Liverpool | 10 |
| Chris Mepham | Bournemouth | 8 |
| Alfie Gilchrist | Chelsea | 7 |
| George Campbell | Montreal | 6 |
| Charlie Taylor | Southampton (Loan) | 6 |
| Krystian Bielik | Birmingham | 6 |
His new partner Chris Mepham looks to be another superb acquisition, and knows what it takes to get promoted from the second tier, having led Sunderland to play-off glory last term.
Elsewhere in the backline, Alfie Gilchrist is an exciting young addition on the right, while Charlie Taylor should provide no-frills, reliable cover for Callum Styles on the left.
- Read More: Iling-Junior straight in, struggling star benched – West Brom’s best XI as transfer window closes
Samuel Iling-Junior a concern amid bright attacking additions
Iling-Junior’s deadline day arrival at West Brom unfortunately feels like a panicked signing in a late bid to replace Tom Fellows.
Albion took a bizarre stance on thir starlet by trying to fend off interest in him all summer, only to then succumb to an offer from potential promotion rivals just days before the deadline.
That has left them in a situation where the only replacement that they could muster was a youngster on loan, who does not have a strong track record in terms of creativity.
| Player | Signed From | Rating |
| Aune Heggebo | SK Brann | 7 |
| Toby Collyer | Manchester United (Loan) | 7 |
| Samuel Iling-Junior | Aston Villa (Loan) | 5 |
While the Iling-Junior signing appears to be rushed, the acquisition of Aune Heggebo appears well-thought-out and shrewd.
The frontman is a long-term investment for the Black Country outfit, and has all of the physical qualities within his game to be a real threat in the second tier.
Toby Collyer also looks like a sensible addition to the midfield, with the Manchester United youngster arriving on loan to provide capable cover for the likes of Alex Mowatt and Jayson Molumby.
The 21-year-old already has six Premier League appearances to his name, and should be yet another Albion signing who can come in and make an impact.
Sign up for the West Brom News WhatsApp channel and turn on notifications to have all the latest, breaking West Bromwich Albion news sent straight to your phone.