West Brom can't fall into £7m transfer trap again | OneFootball

West Brom's £7m signing of Daryl Dike did not work out, and it's the sort of mistake they can't afford to make again this summer.

West Brom head into the 2026/27 Championship campaign with optimism after a positive end to the season under James Morrison.

However, it’s fair to say that they stumbled on the right formula with the former player, as opposed to appointing Morrison due to shrewd decision making.

In truth, last season was a disaster for Albion, and a lot of that was down to poor calls from the hierarchy. The decision to hire the untested Ryan Mason backfired, and the Baggies compounded that error with another gamble that went wrong in Eric Ramsay.

Action Images

By the time Morrison took over, Albion were in disarray, but the 40-year-old’s love for the club, and an understanding of what the fans want, meant he could inspire a turnaround.

West Brom must improve in the transfer market as new rules come into play

So, you would hope the hierarchy have learnt their lessons, and it’s now about backing Morrison as much as possible in the market.

Yet, that brings Albion to another issue, and their transfer record has been hit-and-miss over the years.

It should be said that the club have made some smart signings, with Torbjorn Heggem an obvious one, whilst Isaac Price and Mikey Johnston have represented good value.

With new squad cost ratio rules in place, the importance of good work in the transfer market can’t be understated, and it’s particularly crucial for clubs like the Baggies, who don’t have the luxury of parachute payments.

West Brom's issues with EFL financial rules have been well-documented, and it brought a two-point deduction last season, much to the frustration of the club.

Without getting into the specific details of the case, it shows the EFL are serious about punishing any breaches, and it goes without saying that Albion don’t want another deduction.

Daryl Dike’s transfer must serve as a warning for West Brom

Of course, there are a combination of reasons for West Brom finding themselves in financial trouble, with former owner Guachuan Lai having left the club in a state.

But, part of the issue has been the money they did spend, and bad signings are not just expensive mistakes at the time - they continue to burden the club for years.

Sadly, one deal that falls into that category for West Brom is Daryl Dike’s £7m move from Orlando City.

Action Images

Over a four-and-a-half year period, the USA international played just 62 league games for the club, and the vast majority of the 22 he played last season came from the bench.

You have huge sympathy for Dike, and Albion, for how this played out, as he suffered terrible luck with injuries. Despite that, he always appeared a positive figure around the club, and he did play his part in helping the team stay up under Morrison.

Nevertheless, as transfers go, it was a big mistake from West Brom. As well as the £7m outlay, Dike will have been on a decent salary, as all players who cost that amount would be, and he has just been released, so there is no re-sale value.

That deal will have prevented Albion doing business in the past, and having a player collecting wages and not contributing on the pitch is not what anyone wants. Again, it’s not down to Dike, and you feel sorry for him, but it proved to be a costly error from the club.

Obviously, you can’t get every deal right, and it’s very difficult to find the likes of Heggem, who is bought for a bargain fee, impressed on the pitch, and is sold on for a profit, even if that’s what West Brom must strive to replicate.

However, when it comes to spending £7m, which is the biggest fee Albion have paid in years, they simply can’t afford to get it wrong, and even thought Shilen Patel wasn’t in charge when Dike signed, it’s another lesson he must take from West Brom’s past to help them going into this crucial summer under Morrison.