Credit: Imago

Daniel Lewis

Thu 7 May 2026 14:00, UK

West Bromwich Albion are clearly focusing more on a Premier League promotion push next season amid new links with Rangers defender Leon King.

The Baggies are less than a week removed from their final game of the 2025-26 Championship campaign, which ended with a 3-1 defeat to Sheffield Wednesday.

Survival was all that mattered, however, and James Morrison achieved that with a game to spare to land the manager’s job full-time.

Already attention is turning to the summer transfer window, with Albion set to make a number of changes to their squad.

And there is now talk that centre-back King could be on West Brom’s list of summer targets.

West Brom could rival Wolves for Leon King

King has spent the 2025-26 season on loan with Scottish Championship club Ayr United and has impressed.

The 22-year-old took the decision to drop down a level after featuring just 41 times for Rangers over the space of five seasons.

That is a decision that has paid off as he landed Ayr’s Player of the Year, Fans’ Player of the Year and Young Player of the Year awards.

With King out of contract at Ibrox this summer, he is now a man demand south of the Scottish border.

As per TeamTalk, King is “destined to move on from Rangers” this summer, with numerous options likely opening up in England.

One of those is said to be West Brom, along with fierce rivals Wolves. Middlesbrough, Portsmouth and Burnley, who will also be competing in the Championship next season, are also credited with an interest.

Premier League-bound Coventry City are another name mentioned, so King certainly appears to have plenty of options.

While West Brom have a challenge on their hands persuading King to join them over the other names mentioned, these links are at least encouraging.

The Baggies are clearly shopping in the same market as the sides expected to be competing for promotion, which can only be a good thing.

West Brom rebuild not necessarily as important as some think

West Brom endured a torrid time of things this past season, finishing just one place above the Championship relegation zone.

Had one or two results gone the other way, Albion would be a League One team this coming season.

However, the opposite could also have been true. In fact, Opta have West Brom’s actual position as seventh place, rather than 21st.

That is based on numerous factors, including expected goals (xG) generated in each game.

Basically, West Brom performed well enough across enough games to be competing for the playoffs, rather than fighting relegation.

If Morrison can retain his best players and add just a few quality additions this summer – King among them – West Brom could be cooking again come August.