West Brom have stylistic advantage over Leeds and Ipswich in January transfer race | OneFootball

Highlights

West Bromwich Albion may have the edge in the race to sign Kieffer Moore this season, following reported interest from a number of EFL clubs for his signature.

While former club Cardiff City seemed to be in pole position to sign the Wales striker, a number of clubs in the Championship have recently been linked with Moore.

The Bournemouth striker has struggled to cement his place in the starting eleven this season, and is reported to be on the move in January on a loan deal.

Joining the Bluebirds are West Brom, Leeds United and Ipswich Town, all of whom are looking to sign a striker to help their bid for promotion to the Premier League this season.

However, not all the clubs would be the best fit for Moore, who has a very specific style of play that will not fit every system.

With multiple clubs targeting the ex-Cardiff striker this season, it seems like West Brom could be the best fit to get the most out of the Wales international with the style of play Carlos Coberan adopts at the Hawthorns.

While clubs like Ipswich and Leeds are reportedly eyeing up the target man, it is West Brom whose playing style most fits Moore's skill-set on the pitch.

The Baggies employ a set-up more conducive to a target man to thrive in, not looking to keep the ball for possession’s sake and featuring a more direct attacking approach to their game; you suspected that would be the opposite to Corberan's blueprint, yet his second season at Huddersfield and time with West Brom have seen his sides thrive with a more conservative approach. On Moore's part, he may struggle in a side that tries to dominate the ball with patient build-up play, much preferring a more direct and aerial attack.

West Brom create an above-average amount of chances from crosses, something Moore would thrive under. The 6 foot 4 target man is fantastic in the air, as he has shown for both his clubs and the Wales national team in recent years.

He would also be an outlet for the side when playing long balls forward, allowing him to win the ball in the air and bring the wingers and midfielders into the game. While he does provide goals, his contribution could also help bring the likes of Grady Diangana and Jed Wallace into the game more, which could lead to more goals throughout the team.

Unfortunately for Moore, this is at odds with the way both Leeds and Ipswich play. They are known for their short passing moves and fluid frontlines, and need a striker who can transition out wide when needed to switch positions in the middle of the game.

Due to his size and lack of speed, this would not be ideal for Moore. He is a fairly one-dimensional player who relies on size and strength in his game, as well as good heading and finishing ability. He is the perfect target man for the Baggies, and it would be a huge mistake on his part to pick Leeds or Ipwich for his January transfer move, where he would be a Plan B or C rather than a major outlet in a side that soaks up opposition attacks and plays relatively direct.

Moore's struggles for minutes in 2023/24

Minutes have been hard to come by for Moore at Bournemouth this season, with the arrival of manager Andoni Iraola signaling a perceived end to his time at Dean Court.

The Spanish coach has preferred Dominic Solanke as the starting striker this season, limiting Moore to just seven appearances in the Premier League.

While he has been relegated to the bench for the bulk of the campaign, Moore has scored one goal in the 93 minutes of time on the pitch in a 2-0 victory over Crystal Palace. His header at the far post could be a sign of things to come at West Brom, with his aerial presence always a threat when he's on the pitch.

That goal is one that seemingly annoyed Cardiff manager Erol Bulut, thinking that it could affect Moore's potential transfer to the club. However, he still looks to be on the way out of Bournemouth, with West Brom the ideal destination for the Wales striker's style of play.