West Brom must go all out for Barney Stewart - he outperforms all their strikers
West Bromwich Albion have to try again to sign Falkirk striker Barney Stewart.
The Hawthorns outfit have identified the 22-year-old as an option to fix their attacking issues, and had several bids rejected.
A report from Daily Record on 15 May claimed that Albion have now had a seven-figure bid turned down by the Scottish club.
James Morrison and Co must keep pushing to sign him, as it would be a brilliant addition for the Championship side.
West Brom have been lacking upfront, and signing Stewart would go a big way to solve their problems.
How Stewart outperforms all West Brom strikers
The West Brom target outperforms all their current options, so it is no surprise that they have tried to sign him.
Stewart bagged eight goals in 17 league appearances, while Heggebo beat that with nine, Maja could only manage four, and Dike notched only two goals.
The Scotsman averaged 2.4 shots, much more than the Norwegian's 1.6, the American's one, and the Nigerian's 0.8, per data from Sofascore.
| Stewart compared to West Brom options (league) | Stewart | Heggebo | Dike | Maja |
| Goals | 8 | 9 | 2 | 4 |
| Shots averaged | 2.4 | 1.6 | 1 | 0.8 |
| Goals per minute ratio | 177 mins | 352 mins | 373 mins | 386 mins |
| Big chances missed | 12 | 14 | 5 | 5 |
| Assists | 2 | 4 | 1 | 1 |
He averages a goal every 177 minutes, with Heggebo bagging every 352 minutes, Dike every 373 minutes, and Maja every 386 minutes.
Stewart missed a total of 12 big chances, compared to 14, five and five for the Baggies trio and his conversion rate of 20 per cent betters all three too.
He can also create with two assists to his name, which is less than Heggebo's four, but more than Dike's one and Maja's one.
Why it is not a gamble for West Brom
While some may see the move as a gamble for the Black Country club, it is not that much of a wild move.
The Scottish Premiership is regarded as a similar level to the English Championship, so he would likely have no issue settling in south of the border.
Albion are set to lose both Dike and Maja in the summer, with their contracts expiring, so at the very least, he would be a solid backup.
However, he could definitely challenge Heggebo for a starting spot, given that his figures are slightly better than the current Baggies starter.
It will be an interesting summer for supporters in the West Midlands, especially if they can start their business with a deal for Stewart.