West Brom missed out on bargain summer transfer deal - It could have solved their current issue | OneFootball

West Brom may regret missing out on a summer deal for Lawrence Shankland, as the striker has impressed for Hearts since opting to stay put.

West Brom had a very busy summer, with Ryan Mason named as the new head coach, and he oversaw major changes to the squad.

Owner Shilen Patel has been clear about the financial situation he inherited at The Hawthorns, which meant Albion weren’t going to be in a position to splash out huge sums.

Therefore, Mason and the recruitment team had to wheel and deal, as well as search for bargains, and the Baggies’ positive start to the campaign shows that they did a good job on the whole.

West Brom missed out on summer deal for Lawrence Shankland

Nevertheless, there are always areas that you can improve, and, nine games into the season, it’s clear that West Brom are not as prolific as they need to be.

Mason’s side have scored nine goals in as many games, with new signing Aune Heggebo having found the net just once in that period, even if he does bring a lot to the team with how he leads the line.

There will be a hope that Josh Maja can stay fit to become the reliable goalscorer Albion need, but, right now, they may be regretting not pursuing Lawrence Shankland.

The Hearts striker was out of contract at Tynecastle in the summer, and it had been suggested that West Brom could look to bring the Scotland international down south for the first time in his career.

As a free agent, he would’ve been a realistic and relatively cheap option for the Baggies, and, given his age, Shankland would’ve been able to fit in straight away.

Yet, after weeks of speculation, Shankland ultimately decided to stay put, and it’s a decision that he will be pleased with at the moment.

That’s because it has been a terrific start to the season for the Jambos, who lead the way in the Scottish top flight, and Shankland has been integral to their success under Derek McInnes.

Soccer Football - Scottish Cup - Semi Final - Rangers v Heart of Midlothian - Hampden Park, Glasgow, Scotland, Britain - April 21, 2024 Heart of Midlothian's Lawrence Shankland reacts REUTERS/Russell Cheyne

The 30-year-old is the captain at Hearts, so he brings vital leadership and know-how on the pitch, and he does boast a good all-round game that is key to the way the side plays.

But, Shankland’s main attribute is that he is a number nine who scores goals. He has already managed four in seven games this season, which includes a double in a crucial victory at Ibrox against Rangers.

The ex-Dundee United man is at a stage in his career where he knows what he is good at, and McInnes’ approach ensures that he plays to get the most out of those strengths.

Essentially, if you provide Shankland with opportunities, his movement and finishing ability means he will score goals, and West Brom are in need of a striker who can do just that.

The ten big chances that Mason’s side have missed are average compared to the rest of the Championship, but it shows there is still room for improvement, and they must be more ruthless.

West Brom may need to rectify transfer mistake in the January window

Given Shankland’s situation, he won’t be an option for West Brom in the January window, but it would be no surprise if Mason did push for a new striker to come through the door.

Of course, a lot could change over the next few months, and the short-term priority will be to get Heggebo firing, which may come as he becomes more accustomed to the Championship, along with Maja playing regularly, as he has proven himself to be a clinical scorer at this level.

But, the former Sunderland striker has had fitness issues for some time now, whilst Heggebo’s goal return at this stage can’t be ignored, so there’s every chance they will be in the market for an attacker in the New Year.

They may struggle to find a deal as appealing as Shankland on a free transfer, but a prolific striker could transform this Albion team from a solid Championship outfit, to one that can really compete for promotion - even if it’s six months later than they would’ve wanted.