West Brum told to avoid "nightmare" scenario involving Heggem, Maja and Fellows | OneFootball

Losing key players and relying on ageing, low resale value signings is the absolute worst case scenario for West Brom fans this summer.

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...

For West Bromwich Albion fans, optimism around the appointment of new head coach Ryan Mason is tempered by a deep concern over the club's ongoing financial constraints and what that could mean in the summer transfer window.

FLW's Baggies Fan Pundit Callum Burgess has made it clear that losing a trio of valuable players, without reinvesting wisely, would be the worst-case outcome for this summer.

"The nightmare scenario for Albion this summer is probably Tojbjørn Heggem, Josh Maja, and Tom Fellows all leaving, and then only being able to sign players with little resale value or those who have had their best years already," Callum explained.

Financial constraints loom large

The club's latest accounts revealed a £33.9 million loss for the 2023/24 financial year, placing the club in a vulnerable position when it comes to recruitment.

According to reports, the club is expected to offload senior players to balance the books while funding a squad rebuild under Mason.

The club's financial reality suggests a 'sell-to-buy' policy could be in place. As Callum highlights, fans are bracing themselves for high-profile departures.

Tom Fellows: Albion's major asset

Fellows had a breakthrough campaign in 2024/25, racking up 14 assists.

His performance on the final day, with two goals and an assist, capped a season that has drawn attention from the Premier League.

Should he be sold, the expectation is that it would generate the club's largest fee of the summer, but Callum warns that letting go of high-profile players with no succession plan could set the club back.

"We have to avoid a situation similar to the window to the one in which we brought in Andreas Weimann and Nathaniel Chalobah, both of whom added no real long-term value to the squad. We have to look towards the future."

Hope under Mason, but remaining future-focused is vital

The arrival of Ryan Mason as head coach has brought some excitement. The former Tottenham man has been praised by chairman Shilen Patel for his modern coaching methods and developmental focus.

Patel believes Mason is the right man to "establish elite standards" and implement a clear football philosophy across the club. However, Callum argues that this must be backed in the transfer window.

"We've heard the club wants to focus on younger players, and that's the right direction. But the fear is that financial pressure will lead us back to short-term thinking."