Daryl Dike exit prediction made at West Brom - "hard to see" anything else happening | OneFootball

FLW Fan Pundit Callum believes that no club will take a chance on Daryl Dike until the end of his contract, given his injury record.

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...

West Bromwich Albion have started this season exceptionally well, with the Baggies heading into the September international break on the back of three victories and a draw from their opening four matches.

In his first full-time managerial role, former England international midfielder Ryan Mason appears to be doing impressive work at The Hawthorns, after a summer in which West Brom seem to have a built a squad capable of once again challenging and finishing in the play-off places, at least.

The squad depth is one thing that could be questioned in attacking areas of the pitch, despite Samuel Iling-Junior joining on loan from Aston Villa on deadline day to perhaps fill a void or two.

However, injury concerns are one thing that often blight Albion, especially in attack, with Josh Maja struggling for consistency in terms of his fitness, and Daryl Dike perennially unavailable.

It seems unlikely that anyone would come in for Daryl Dike

Having joined Albion for a fee believed to be in the region of £7 million all the way back in January 2022, Dike has managed to make just 43 appearances across all competitions for the club.

The former Barnsley loanee appeared to be heading into this season injury free before a thigh issue late on in pre-season ruled him out for the start of this campaign.

With Dike out of contract at the end of this season and some Major League Soccer clubs looking to strengthen in their off-season over the winter, plus some other transfer windows still open, such as Belgium, Portugal, Saudi Arabia and Turkey, it could well be that Dike moves on before the end of his deal.

However, as FLW’s Baggies’ Fan Pundit Callum Burgess outlines, even that would seem unlikely, given just how wretched the 25-year-old striker’s injury record actually is.

Callum says: “I think that until Dike is able to prove his full fitness, then I can’t really see any clubs taking a punt on him until his contract expires at the end of the season.

“It is a shame really, as everyone really wanted to see him succeed at West Bromwich Albion, but with so many injuries, and recurring ones at that, it is hard to see him being offered a new contract at the end of his current one, even if it is on reduced terms.

“I think that teams will be massively put off due to his injury history and, until he is a free agent, I can’t really see anyone taking a punt on him yet.”

A story of what could have been for Daryl Dike at West Brom

During that loan stint at Barnsley, Dike was extremely impressive under the management of Valerien Ismael, firing the Tyles into the play-off places in the Championship with nine goals in 19 regular season appearances.

Ismael then managed to persuade the Albion hierarchy to bring him in from Orlando City on a permanent basis, with Dike also having had an impressive MLS record with 18 goals in 35 appearances.

At West Brom, though, Dike has struggled for any form of consistency in terms of fitness, albeit he has still shown quality when he has been able to get on the pitch.

He notched seven goals in 23 Championship appearances in the 2022/23 campaign, but even that was injury-hit, with quite a lot of substitute appearances in those numbers.

Then, on the final day of last season as West Brom relegated Luton Town at The Hawthorns as a result of a 5-2 victory, Dike starred with a goal and an assist and gave a glimpse of what he could be.

However, rather than what he could be, it has turned into a case, already, of what could have been for Dike at West Brom, with the American now into the final year of his contract.