What we know as West Brom plot transfer for free agent Will Smallbone

Will Smallbone has emerged as West Bromwich Albion's answer to Alex Mowatt's exit.

The Baggies have been busy this window in terms of incomings but not quite as active when it comes to selling.

Mowatt has completed his medical at Derby ahead of his move to the Rams, in what is just a second sale of the summer.

Goalkeeper Josh Griffiths was sold to Stoke City in a £600,000 deal earlier in the window.

Other than that, there have been plenty of exits with multiple players leaving upon the expiry of their contract.

And as Mowatt's time ends at The Hawthorns, the Baggies could take advantage of signing an out-of-contract player themselves.

What has been said about West Brom's interest in Will Smallbone?

West Brom could be set to take advantage of the free-agent market as they see Mowatt make his move out of B71.

Smallbone has previously been tipped as an option for West Brom, and now it seems they are turning towards the Irish international.

According to the Daily Mail, Smallbone has many options this summer transfer window, but due to Mowatt's exit, the Baggies have emerged as one of those.

The 26-year-old has been without a club since June 2026, with his contract at St Mary's coming to an end.

The negative record West Brom fans will want to see improved

One good thing from the potential move for Smallbone is that Baggies fans already have a clear picture of how he could work in midfield alongside Jayson Molumby.

There is no guarantee that the Irish duo will be the preferred options, especially with the recent arrivals of Felix Horn Myhr and Rabby Nzingoula.

However, at some point, Molumby and Smallbone could very well be together in the centre of the pitch.

At international, the pair have played alongside each other six times as per Transfermarkt.

Five of those games have been from the beginning of the match, with the results in those five leaving lots to be desired.

For the Republic of Ireland, they have two wins and three losses when starting alongside each other.

Of course, at international level it is a small sample size, and hopefully when building a stronger relationship week by week at West Brom, it could reap more rewards.

Time will tell if that midfield duo is utilised at The Hawthorns, with Smallbone yet to make a decision on his future.