West Brom defender set for potential exit by 7pm - Ryan Mason facing "tricky" decision | OneFootball

The youngster could find himself playing for a new club by the end of Deadline Day.

West Bromwich Albion defender Alex Williams is a late target for Scottish side Falkirk as the transfer deadline edges closer.

Teams in the EFL have until 7pm tonight to submit the requisite paperwork to get transfers over the line, whether that be for players that are leaving or players that are arriving.

West Brom have had an active end to the window, as things stand, with at least one deal expected to be completed by the Baggies before the clock strikes seven in the afternoon.

Aston Villa's Samuel Iling-Junior is set to undergo a medical today ahead of his season-long loan move to The Hawthorns.

Amid this move, Baggies boss Ryan Mason could see one of his own young prospects head elsewhere before the window shuts.

Williams, a 20-year-old right-back, is being eyed by Falkirk ahead of the deadline, leaving the former Tottenham Hotspur assistant with a "tricky" decision to make, as per Alan Nixon.

Like with Iling-Junior, the Albion defender is wanted on a temporary basis by John McGlynn's side, who play in the Scottish Premiership.

Williams, a Welsh under-21 international, has only made one loan move so far in his short career as a footballer, and that was to Stratford Town, who play in the Southern Football League Premier Division (the seventh tier of English football).

He came on for Alex Mowatt in West Brom's last match, a 1-0 away win against former league leaders Stoke City, and that was his second first-team appearance of the 2025/26 season.

He started in the Baggies' one and only EFL Cup match of the term which resulted in a defeat to Derby County on penalties.

West Brom have tough Alex Williams decision to make before 7pm deadline

One of the recent moves that West Brom made was to replace their outgoing first-choice right-back Darnell Furlong with Chelsea's Alfie Gilchrist, who has joined the club on a £2 million permanent deal, plus add-ons.

Fellow summer signing George Campbell was used on the right side of defence against Stoke, but he is not a naturally suited player to this position.

Williams is, in effect, the second and last true right-back option behind new arrival Gilchrist.

That leaves Mason with a very tough decision to make with little time left in the window. If the Baggies feel that they need another option in this position but can't find one, they surely can't afford to sanction this loan move for the Welsh youngster.

They are well-stocked at centre-back even if Campbell is temporarily turned into a back-up option to Gilchrist, or even the starter, so it's not imperative that Albion sign someone to fill Williams' spot if he does leave.

It does leave them in a tricky spot, though, with what to do with their emerging defensive option.