Ryan Mason drops clear West Brom transfer hint as double blow emerges | OneFootball

Ryan Mason has indicated what positions West Brom may be targeting this January

West Brom manager Ryan Mason has hinted that central midfield may be where the Baggies target this January.

This is per a report from the Express and Star, which states that Mason is in contact with the higher-ups at the Hawthorns about January recruitment.

With Alex Mowatt and Toby Collyer on the shelf currently as December winds down, West Brom are looking somewhat light in the middle of the park, leaving Jayson Molumby and Ousmane Diakite as the only natural options in the position.

However, the Baggies boss was rather coy about the full ins and outs of the upcoming window, instead stressing the importance of the games between now and New Year's Day.

Ryan Mason addresses West Brom January transfer strategy

The Baggies have had a season full of ups and downs already, despite not even reaching the halfway stage of the campaign as yet.

Sitting 16th, results and performances have been inconsistent, and speaking before their trip to Hull City on Saturday, the Express and Star have reported that picking up as many points as possible in the final three games before the January transfer window opens is the primary goal currently for Ryan Mason.

That being said, he admitted that he's in dialogue with the sporting director, Andrew Nestor, and director of operations, Ian Pearce, about where the group could improve, if the funds became available to do so.

"We speak," said Mason. "I think when the window shut, we spoke and understood there were maybe positions to look at. We're constantly in dialogue, but there are a couple of things. One being if you can do things."

While what has happened on the pitch over the past few months may not have affected strategy, an unexpected injury or a returning player over the next few games before the window opens may force ideas to change.

Alex Mowatt missed the 2-0 win over Sheffield United with a foot injury, and Toby Collyer is back at parent club Manchester United, receiving treatment for a calf injury.

The 34-year-old boss didn't disclose whether West Brom are in a position to improve, and instead put the focus on the upcoming fixtures.

"We're in a moment where we've got three or four more games until that point [the window opening], and we've remained quite consistent about things we're looking at and areas we would like to improve," Mason continued.

"My responsibility is to try and win games of football. Four games is a long time in football. A lot can change, and momentum can feel different.

"We've had a recent injury to Toby, and Mowey has been injured, and we're not sure. Sometimes, in football, you can prepare, and things happen, things change, and you go off course. We'll cross that bridge when we come to it."

Ryan Mason right to put full focus on remaining December fixtures

Following an impressive display and victory against an in-form Sheffield United side last Friday night, the main focus at the Hawthorns is ensuring that this momentum can carry on into the congested Christmas period, and rightly so.

The Baggies have to navigate some tough fixtures over the coming fortnight, including games against Hull, Bristol City and QPR before the January window even opens.

Given how tight the Championship is currently, nine points in those games could be the difference between being in the bottom half as they are now, or perhaps even banging on the door of the top six.

Perspectives can change, and while transfer strategies won't waver too much if the Baggies are a top ten side, rather than one in 16th, it could help them bring in higher quality players next month to help bolster the squad.

So, the focus now is on picking up as many points in the next week and hoping that the squad is about as healthy as it can be going into January. Those two factors, plus obvious budget reasoning, could shape their window.