"Look to avoid" - West Brom offered transfer advice on pursuit of Rangers FC player eyed by Coventry, Wrexham | OneFootball

The Baggies are amongst the EFL clubs linked to Tom Lawrence

This article is part of Football League World's 'Terrace Talk' series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more…

Rangers midfielder Tom Lawrence will become a free agent in the summer, following the expiration of his contract in Glasgow.

The Daily Mail have reported ample interest in the 31-year-old, including from across the English Football League.

West Bromwich Albion join Wrexham, Coventry, Middlesbrough and Blackburn Rovers in those rumoured to be interested in acquiring Lawrence’s services in the summer.

The attacking midfielder boasts over 300 appearances in the Championship, across spells with Derby County, Ipswich Town, Cardiff City, Blackburn and Rotherham United.

Tom Lawrence is the “profile of player that Albion should be looking to avoid”

With West Brom among those linked to Lawrence, Football League World spoke with resident Baggies fan pundit Callum Burgess on the midfielder’s suitability for the Midlands side.

With Grady Diangana and John Swift reaching the expiry of their contracts this summer, our West Brom fan pundit was asked if he was the right solution to maintaining depth in the Baggies’ attacking ranks.

“Over Tom Lawrence’s history of performing well in the Championship, I’d probably say that he’s the profile of player that Albion should be looking to avoid in the future.” Burgess told FLW.

“Out of contract of course, but 31 years old he’s not going to have much resale value, and I doubt he’ll be on the lowest wages either.

“At most Albion might be able to get a decent season out of him, but he’s only scored four goals this year in Scotland, that doesn’t scream to me someone who’s going to come into the Championship putting in performances better than the likes of Swift and Diangana who will be leaving us this summer.”

“Even when some claim that they’ve been inconsistent potentially, I’d say that they’re probably at the level that Tom Lawrence would give us at his best in the Championship.

“So personally, while Albion do need more depth in this area, we’re going to have the likes of Tammer Bany and Isaac Price probably, I’d want one more attacking midfielder, in addition to those two. But I’d probably look to avoid Tom Lawrence if it was up to me.”

West Bromwich Albion’s recruitment strategy does not align with Tom Lawrence signing

While Lawrence’s experience in the Championship is extensive, it’s difficult to ignore that he doesn’t quite align with the profile of player West Brom have been targeting in recent windows.

At 31, the Rangers midfielder is approaching the latter stages of his career, and with limited resale value, any deal would likely come with a wage bill that doesn't reflect long-term planning.

The Baggies have instead pivoted towards younger, more dynamic talents - players like Tammer Bany and Isaac Price, both just 21, who offer promise for the future and the potential for profit down the line.

That approach has become a defining trait of Albion’s recruitment strategy, particularly given the club’s ongoing financial constraints.

Lawrence might offer short-term depth, particularly with key players out of contract, but the Baggies would need to weigh that up against the risk of committing to a player whose best days may be behind him.