Following on what has been a relatively quiet summer transfer window, Valerien Ismael’s side West Bromwich Albion side were equally quiet on deadline day, with the only movement at The Hawthorns being 19-year-old centre-forward Jovan Malcolm’s departure on loan.
Having confirmed the signings of Adam Reach, Alex Mowatt, Matt Clarke, Quevin Castro, Jordan Hugill and Jayson Molumby, Albion were to make no more moves prior to the closure of the market on Tuesday evening, while they also failed to find a club willing to take Kenneth Zohore off of their hands.
Indeed, it was reported that Ismael had given the green light for the Baggies to offload the 27-year-old centre-forward on Tuesday, and, while Albion could not find the £1.8m-rated man a new home, the striker nevertheless looks unlikely to feature in the Frenchman’s first-team plans with any great regularity over the course of the season.
As such, the club’s failure to move the striker onto pastures new this summer, coupled with the 45-year-old’s aforementioned apparent unwillingness to utilise the Denmark international, could present the West Brom manager with something of a headache going forwards.
Lack of depth
While it is true that West Brom have not exactly struggled for goals in the absence of an out and out number nine so far this season, having found the back of the net 12 times over their opening five Championship fixtures, with only Jordan Hugill – aside from Zohore – in the Frenchman’s squad who could really be described as a classic centre-forward, the 45-year-old could be left somewhat short in the position over the course of the club’s campaign.
Although Callum Robinson and Karlan Grant can operate through the middle if required, both players are more suited to playing on the wing, meaning that, if Zohore is not going to be considered for the role, Ismael has no choice but to place a considerable amount of trust in the Norwich City loanee.
And, considering the centre-forward’s form in the Canaries’ promotion-winning campaign last term, during which the 29-year-old scored just four goals over his 31 Championship appearances, the argument could easily be made that the Frenchman’s trust could be slightly misplaced.
As such, should Hugill indeed struggle to find form at The Hawthorns this season, the failure to shift Zohore’s £16.5k-per-week wages off of the club’s books on deadline day – something which, it can be assumed, stopped the club making a move for another player in the position – could prove extremely costly for the club’s promotion hopes come next May.
In other news: Ismael sets sights on last-gasp West Brom deal, could be the final piece of the puzzle