West Brom “presence” should have mid-term Hawthorns future under Carlos Corberan: The verdict | OneFootball

This article is part of Football League World’s ‘The Verdict’ series, which provides personal opinions from the FLW writers regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more…

West Brom have been plugging away without Kyle Bartley in recent weeks owing to the centre-back’s injury and illness troubles.

The 31-year-old has managed just seven appearances in total for the Baggies this season and is yet to have been available for Carlos Corberan since the World Cup.

Bartley will still have a role to play at West Brom between now and the end of the season, yet there’s a question to answer beyond that, despite the fact he’s contracted until the summer of 2024.

Our writers discuss Bartley’s future at the Hawthorns here….

Simmey Hannifin-Donaldson

Having triggered an extension on his contract back in December, I can see Kyle Bartley remaining at The Hawthorns this summer.

The 31-year-old has struggled with injuries this season and has barely featured for Albion, but Carlos Corberan has previously discussed just what a presence he is in the dressing room.

If his contract were to expire this summer, I could see him leaving, but I think with a year left, it’s much easier for the club to justify keeping hold of him and seeing how his fitness turns out over the next 12 months as opposed to if they had to offer him a new deal to stay.

With West Brom chasing a play-off spot and a potential promotion under Carlos Corberan, if those goals were achieved, it could be another reason to keep Bartley around, too, given he has experienced top flight football previously.

Ben Wignall

I’m not exactly sure that Bartley is a majorly popular figure with West Brom fans for his performances in the last 12 months, and when it comes to potentially staying at the club beyond the summer, his recent injury will not have helped.

But you look at his three appearances under Corberan and in those games he has scored twice and kept two clean sheets, so quite clearly he offers something.

One thing that isn’t working in his favour is age – Bartley will be 32 by the start of the 2023-24 season and whilst he’s not over the hill by any stretch of the imagination, Corberan may feel he can get a younger and fresher option.

You cannot take away his impact in the brief time he’s been available for the Spaniard though – the club should look to keep him around.

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Alfie Burns

My gut feeling is that Bartley’s future is going to depend on what level West Brom are playing at. If they win promotion through the play-offs, they would look to move him on the summer, yet another year in the EFL and he might be worth keeping around.

Corberan is the main reason for that. Just looking at his Huddersfield Town squad, he had Matty Pearson and Tom Lees at the heart of things as they reached the play-off final, two really experienced, no-frills centre-backs, of a similar ilk to Bartley.

The 31-year-old has experience and clearly something to offer still in the Championship, given what he’s coughed up in terms of goals, leadership and clean sheets in his limited time on the pitch this season.

His injuries are a problem and they do contribute to me believing that West Brom need to revamp their centre-back options a touch in the summer with a top addition to compliment Dara O’Shea and Semi Ajayi. Yet, there’s probably a role for Bartley, if indeed, West Brom are still in the Championship.

Corberan’s preference when it comes to senior centre-backs only fuels that belief.