West Brom ready transfer for perfect Toby Collyer replacement already after Man United return
Manchester United have recalled Toby Collyer from his loan spell with West Brom.
Ryan Mason is under serious pressure to start turning things around; otherwise, he could become the seventh second-tier manager to be axed this season following Gary Rowett’s departure from Oxford.
West Brom are still predicted to finish in the bottom half this season, in what has been a frustrating campaign so far.
Collyer’s early recall does not help matters.
However, with West Brom expected to be active in the January transfer window, fans will be hoping they can stay within the play-off race long enough for any new arrivals to fire them back into contention.
Toby Collyer call hands West Brom ideal transfer opportunity
One player that won’t play any further part in West Brom’s 2025-26 season is midfielder Collyer.
The 21-year-old has been recalled by Manchester United on Boxing Day, with plans to possibly utilise him under Ruben Amorim.
Collyer has been suffering from an injury problem since late November, and wasn’t able to cement a starting role in West Brom’s side before that either.
But, when one door closes, another may well have just opened for Albion, and it’s in the shape of Sunderland’s Dan Neil.
Neil has been linked with a January move to West Brom, with the 24-year-old central midfielder firmly on the fringes of Sunderland’s Premier League squad this season.
He’s only made two top-flight appearances this term, even though he played a vital role in helping the Black Cats win promotion from the Championship last season as captain.
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West Brom should go all out for Neil in January
With Collyer’s departure further chipping away at an already thin central midfield group, West Brom will surely be looking to reinforce this department in January.
Neil has proven that he’s a top-class Championship central midfielder, and those players aren’t typically made available to second-tier sides at the best of times, and mid-season in particular.
- Neil hasn’t failed to make fewer than 44 total appearances for Sunderland over the last four seasons
- He started 44 Championship games for Sunderland last season, scoring twice and assisting three
- Neil ranked in the top percentiles of Championship central midfielders for successful dribbles, touches, duels won, interceptions and recoveries in 2024-25
Therefore, West Brom realistically couldn’t hope to sign a much better player than Neil in January to add to their central midfield options, and he’d surely see a temporary move as an ideal chance to prove to Sunderland why he deserves to have a long-term future there.
So, with Collyer’s recall, it’s now got to be a no-brainer for West Brom to firm up their reported interest in Neil this winter.
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