Why Conor Townsend deal may just make sense as West Brom strike agreement for next signing
Conor Townsend looks set to confirm a West Brom return after two years away.
The 33-year-old is currently a free agent after a nightmare spell with Ipswich Town.
He completed a move to Portman Road in the summer of 2024 after the Tractor Boys reached the Premier League.
It's safe to say that things went as badly as they possibly could as he suffered an ACL tear last summer.
That has limited him to just 10 appearances in Suffolk and he has since been let go.
West Brom now look set to pick up the pieces and will wait and see what Townsend can do back at The Hawthorns.
What we know as Conor Townsend set to sign for West Brom
It was certainly a blow to lose the left-back when he moved on after being a regular for six seasons.
He departed as vice-captain in B71, but had a chance to go and feature in the Premier League at the time.
No one in the Black Country could begrudge him for the move and have been left disappointed for him that things didn't work out with Ipswich.
West Brom News suggested that Townsend would be a useful addition for West Brom earlier in the summer and he now looks set to sign.
BBC Sport's Steve Hermon reported on Friday that the Englishman "will be signing" for Albion on a free transfer.
He is set to pen a one-year deal at The Hawthorns and return after two years away.
Why are West Brom are re-signing Townsend?
There have been plenty of ins and outs in B71 already this summer and that only looks set to continue.
Plenty of big names have moved on with the likes of Jed Wallace, Josh Maja, Daryl Dike and Karlan Grant departing at the end of their contracts.
That experience is something that will need replacing, especially with younger options coming in, in the shape of Barney Stewart, Carter Pinnington and Jimmy-Jay Morgan.
Townsend could prove to be the ideal man to inject that experience into the squad for the upcoming season.
He has 213 Baggies appearances under his belt and has obviously played in the Premier League.
That could be exactly what James Morrison and Co. need, so it makes total sense on a free transfer.
The injury issues are a massive concern, of course, but Townsend can offer just as much off the pitch as he can on it at this stage of his career.