West Brom must push to seal Sunderland deal - Ryan Mason could make ruthless decision on £6k-a-week Baggies star | OneFootball

West Brom should target Sunderland's Anthony Patterson, even if it means Ryan Mason must drop Josh Griffiths.

West Brom have had a mixed start to the season, so the January window is shaping up to be hugely important for Ryan Mason.

In many ways, the table perfectly sums up how the Baggies have been, as they’ve won as many as they’ve lost, and only one game, a 3-0 loss at Millwall, has been decided by more than a single goal either way. That shows that Albion are competitive, but they must do more in both boxes to sustain a proper push for the play-offs.

Naturally, many will point to the attacking issues that must be addressed, as Mason’s men have managed just 14 goals in 15 games, so bringing in a new number nine, and a winger, is sure to be a priority when the window opens, as they have lacked a spark in the final third.

West Brom should consider January move for Sunderland’s Anthony Patterson

However, if the opportunity arises to strengthen any area of the squad, Mason and the recruitment team must be ready to act - and Sunderland’s Anthony Patterson fits the bill for someone who upgrades the squad.

The keeper helped the Black Cats to promotion last season, but the signing of Robin Roefs has seen the academy graduate drop to the bench, and it has been reported that he could be allowed to leave on a temporary basis in the New Year.

Given his pedigree, you would expect many clubs to be in the mix for his signature, but Albion are an attractive option, and they should be able to offer Patterson the first-team football he craves.

Ryan Mason must be prepared to make ruthless Josh Griffiths decision

Some may dispute that, as Josh Griffiths is clearly a talented keeper, and he has already had some huge moments for Albion this season. But, as you would expect for a relatively inexperienced stopper at this level, he does make mistakes, and a costly one at Charlton recently immediately springs to mind.

Again, there will be many who feel he is worth persevering with, and you can understand that viewpoint. Griffiths is going to benefit from playing regularly, and he has the tools to become a very capable keeper at this level in the future.

Yet, is that really what West Brom should be about? The Baggies are a big club at this level, and the priority shouldn’t be developing players. Instead, it’s about doing all they can to win promotion this season, and that means making ruthless decisions.

So, whilst Griffiths, who is estimated to be on £6,000 a week, could come good, the reality is that Patterson is a more proven option right now, and he could help turn these tight games in West Brom’s favour with a good save or his excellent distribution.

Plus, he is another player who has shown he can win promotion at this level, and that know-how is particularly important when you enter the final months of the campaign when the pressure builds.

That’s not to say Patterson is a faultless signing, and there will be reservations about his lack of game time this season, whilst he has made some errors in the past.

Ultimately, though, West Brom are likely to be in a position where the play-offs are a very realistic aim this season, but they will need to be willing to take a chance in January.

That doesn’t mean they start splashing the cash recklessly, which is unlikely to happen under Shilen Patel anyway. Instead, they need to have clear targets in mind that can come in, improve the XI to ensure Albion can start getting positive results on a consistent basis as they try to achieve their Premier League dream.