Credit: Imago

Cameron Smith

Wed 27 May 2026 16:00, UK

West Bromwich Albion are already turning their attention to next season as they look to build on their end to the 2025-26 campaign.

Although the season ended on a relatively upbeat note, the wider picture of their Championship effort was undeniably bleak from an Albion standpoint.

Following the grim spells under Ryan Mason and Eric Ramsay, the Baggies handed the reins to former midfielder James Morrison in a bid to stabilise a sinking ship.

He delivered, overseeing a 10-match unbeaten run that ultimately secured the Black Country club’s Championship status.

However, expectations will climb sharply next term, and the clubs dropping down from the Premier League are poised to pose serious problems for the rest of the division.

Relegated Premier League sides will be instant favourites for return

As is always the case for sides relegated from the Premier League, they carry the tag of early favourites.

That is even more true this season, with the new Squad Cost Ratio rules specifying that clubs can spend 85 per cent of their total revenue on player- and manager-related costs – immediately benefiting those with parachute payments.

For context on the above table, the Baggies’ most recently recorded figure from June 2025 stands at £30.4million – more than £140m behind Black Country rivals Wolves.

And it is not just in the accounts where the gap is clear. Both Wolves and West Ham have been making headlines recently.

Ahead of their return to the Championship, Wolves have confirmed the future of midfielder Andre – previously linked with Juventus – while Mateus Mane intends to stay, and Raul Jimenez and Kieran Trippier have both been in talks over a move.

This comes on the back of the January signing of Championship specialist and former Albion man, Adam Armstrong.

At the same time, West Ham confirmed on Wednesday that Nuno Espirito Santo will remain at the helm, with the former goalkeeper expressing confidence in the project at the London Stadium.

As for Burnley, it would be no surprise to see them at the top end of the division again, given how often they find themselves there when in the second tier.

With two of the three relegated sides seemingly getting the wheels rolling early, they may well take on early favouritism – handing a tough task to the Baggies and others aiming to launch themselves up the standings.

What is the lay of the land for West Ham next season?

After a season like the one they have just endured, it is only natural to approach a new campaign with caution.

There is plenty of work to be done to restore West Brom to the level required, and the reality is that Albion do find themselves on the back foot compared to the Championship’s more established promotion contenders and the sides coming down from the top flight.

In that context, this recent period has been far from acceptable, particularly when the tightly contested nature of the division still presented golden play-off opportunities to sides who were better placed – emphasised by the shock winners Hull, who were under a transfer ban throughout the season.

Morrison was able to turn things around and deserves praise, but the bar will be raised next term, and the club must now find a way to close the gap on those ahead of them.

The hope at The Hawthorns is that, with a strong summer, that refresh can happen more quickly than anticipated. Hull’s promotion this year is proof that anything is possible if you are able to build real momentum.

But for that to happen, everyone at the club must be pulling in the same direction for the first time in years, regardless of the advantages other clubs may have.