West Brom receive boost in £1m striker pursuit after Brentford transfer | OneFootball

Falkirk have secured the arrival of Brentford forward Ethan Laidlaw, which could open the door for West Brom to sign Barney Stewart

West Brom's admiration of Falkirk frontman Barney Stewart is no secret, but their pursuit of the 22-year-old has been unsuccessful thus far.

The Baggies struggled at times for goals last season, netting 48 in 46 Championship outings, the fifth-lowest in the division and were held scoreless on 15 different occasions, too.

Daryl Dike was released at the end of his contract, and while offers and negotiations are ongoing surrounding the futures of Josh Maja and Karlan Grant, there's a chance that they may depart too, which would indicate a big refresh in the striker department.

Stewart has been outlined as the main target in the early stages of the offseason at the Hawthorns, with multiple offers being made to Falkirk for one of the hottest prospects in the SPL, including one over £1 million, which have been rejected.

With three years remaining on his deal with the Bairns, there's no rush to sell, but given the Scotsman's presence throughout the second half of the campaign in the squad, an argument could have been made that John McGlynn would be wanting a replacement to come in before allowing Stewart to leave.

Falkirk's purchase of Ethan Laidlaw could open the door for Barney Stewart to join West Brom

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Falkirk announced on Tuesday morning that they'd completed the signing of Brentford frontman Ethan Laidlaw for an undisclosed fee.

The former Scotland U-19 international was a product of the Hibernian academy and returns north of the border to try and make an impact in the SPL for the first time in his career, following a productive three years at Brentford, where he progressed through the ranks and starred for the B team at the Gtech Community Stadium.

Laidlaw was voted players' player of the year for the Brentford B side last season, scoring 15 times and adding 10 assists, too. Evidently, the 21-year-old is ready for first-team football and could lead the line for John McGlynn's side next season.

West Brom fans who are hoping that they can pry Stewart away from the Falkirk Stadium this summer will hope that this can be the first domino in the sequence that allows the exciting 22-year-old to become a Baggies player.

James Morrison's side won't be alone in the chase, however, with the likes of Celtic and fellow second-tier outfit Lincoln City also in the running.

If this move for Laidlow does open the door for Stewart to leave, the Baggies will have to be quick to come in with an improved offer to tempt the Bairns into choosing them over some of the other interested parties.

Barney Stewart is more than ready for a Championship move

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Stewart has only been a professional player for a year and a half, and was playing at Heriot Watt University before Falkirk snapped him up in January 2025. This past year, he's had a breakout campaign and then some.

After an electric loan spell with Dunfermline Athletic in the opening half of the campaign, netting eight in 12 games for Neil Lennon's side, he was recalled and thrown straight into SPL action, and would add another 10 in 21 games in all competitions for the Bairns, helping them secure a top-six place in the division before the split.

With a handful of Scotland under-21 caps to his name now, many are touting him to break into the senior fold after this summer's World Cup, which would punctuate his rapid rise to stardom.

A move to the Championship, and to one of the premier clubs in the division, in West Brom, too, would help with that as well, and it would put him in the limelight for a move further up the pyramid if he does well at the Hawthorns.

And many feel he can do, too, but it's all down to whether the Baggies can afford to bring him in. John McGlynn has spoken about how Falkirk aren't in any rush to sell their assets, so a potential fee may still be an issue for the second-tier side.