"The best bit of business..." - West Brom fan pundit picks out January transfer window highlight | OneFootball

Highlights

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…

Despite picking up a couple of important signings in the January window, arguably the best thing West Bromwich Albion did last month was avoid letting their most important players leave the club.

The Baggies made three loan signings in their bid to cement their place in the play-off places this season, as they look toward a potential promotion to the Premier League.

before the window closed on February 2nd, adding to an already impressive squad at the Hawthorns.

However, keeping together a squad that has got them into the top six was the biggest achievement amid rumours of a takeover at the club.

FLW's West Brom fan pundit Matt Smith thinks that the best transfer business his club did in the January transfer window was keeping their star players at the club.

He said: "Out of all the signings Albion have done in the window, keeping the players that we've got trumps any of that.

"Obviously, we lost Jeremy Sarmiento but our real important players have stayed - probably because most of them are injured.

"I think it was important we didn't lose the likes of Thomas-Asante, Swift, Yokoslu. Bartley was linked with Luton. I think that would have been a bit of a disaster if he did leave. Alex Palmer in goal as well, so it was very important that we kept those.

"Tom Fellows getting a new contract was really important. That, for me, is the best bit of business we've done in the window, because I think he's a real good player.

"There were links to Premier League clubs, so if we can get Kipran a new deal that would be really promising too, but I'm not sure how likely that is or not.

"That is the best bit of business is keeping out best players, and I'd also add that does that tell us that funds are coming into the club, with rumours of takeovers being close?

"All those loan signings that were linked on deadline day, as well as keeping our best players does make it interesting. Is there some cash finally coming into the club?"

Several players were linked with moves away from West Brom

While they made some impressive additions to the squad, the Baggies retaining some of their key players was the biggest part of their window, as Smith pointed out.

Tom Fellows was reportedly a target of Premier League side Everton, according to Fabrizio Romano. The winger has made an impact for the Baggies so far this term and even signed a new contract to help scare off interest.

This 3-and-a-half-year deal helped secure the player's future at the club. The 20-year-old has impressed during his appearances this season, and could be one for West Brom to mould into a starting forward for the side in the years to come.

Meanwhile, central defender Kyle Bartley was also reportedly wanted by a Premier League club. The Telegraph linked him with a move to Luton Town, although his recent resurgence following issues with the fans has shown how well he fits in at the club under manager Carlos Corberan.

The likes of John Swift and Alex Palmer, the latter of whom turned down a move to Luton in the summer, are key players in the spine of the team, so keeping hold of them is one of the best bits of business the club could do.

The fans will be hoping that the solid squad they have built can help take them to the play-offs this season, with the new loan signings complimenting the players who have already performed so well in the first half of the Championship.