Ex-West Brom star tips 'sensational' Josh Maja to make key Hawthorns decision | OneFootball

Andy Johnson hopes to see Josh Maja continue his career at West Brom, amidst contract discussions

Josh Maja's future is still uncertain, as he is still weighing up his options ahead of his contract with West Brom expiring at the end of this month.

The Baggies' retained list in mid-May outlined that the 27-year-old had been offered a new deal, but it is yet to be announced if he has accepted those fresh terms, or if he'll be moving on this summer.

Maja endured a difficult campaign in front of goal last season, as West Brom only just survived what would have been a disastrous relegation to the third tier. He netted four times in 40 league outings, but three of those goals did come under new manager James Morrison in the latter stages of the campaign.

Because of that uptick in form, coinciding with a 10-game unbeaten run to secure survival, many are questioning whether the 27-year-old is back to his best, and if he could replicate the kind of numbers he was putting up in the campaign before last, where he netted 12 in 26 league games.

Andy Johnson hopes that Josh Maja will extend his West Brom contract this summer

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Former West Brom midfielder and Baggies legend, Andy Johnson, is one of those who hopes to see Maja continue his career at the Hawthorns next season, as he feels he is the most complete frontman that the club has.

"Would I like Josh to stay? Of course I would," he told the Express and Star.

"He links up the play better than anyone at the football club, between the midfield and the strikers. His touch nine times out of ten is sensational; he can flip balls in behind.

"He really does spot it. If he gets a partnership with a winger who stands the ball up for him, he can attack it, and he'll get goals."

With West Brom excelling in a 4-4-2 system under James Morrison towards the tail end of the season, Johnson believes that the more strikers at the club in order to rotate and provide competition, the better.

The Baggies released Daryl Dike at the end of his contract, and Karlan Grant remains in discussion, too, but the 52-year-old feels that Grant is better suited out wide.

"I'd like to think we'd be looking at another striker," he continued. "Aune Heggebo has done great up there, but we know that Mozza [James Morrison] likes to play with two up, so he's definitely going to need another striker.

"We know Karlan Grant can go up there, but he prefers on the wing — and I prefer him on the wing as well."

Either way, if Maja signs an extension or not, West Brom will likely need another frontman through the door this summer. If the 27-year-old sticks around and picks up where he left off towards the end of this past season, Morrison could have a real selection headache at the top of the pitch.

Josh Maja will be under the magnifying glass if he remains at West Brom this summer

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This past season has been a write-off for West Brom, especially in an attacking sense, and the sooner that the new campaign begins, so the Baggies can put last year in the rear-view mirror, the better.

Maja will be feeling the same, too, as he really struggled to find his feet, but the final couple of months presented Baggies fans with hope. Before March, there wouldn't have been much opposition to the 27-year-old leaving. Now, some are open to him extending his deal.

If he does remain a West Brom player, though, he'll need to begin next season as he finished the last and prove why he was handed a new contract at the Hawthorns. There won't be much room for error.

A lot of the good that happened at the Hawthorns could be down to that patented 'new manager bounce.' The first few months of next season will be key for the Baggies to dispel those murmurs from both a managerial and player sense.

And it's up to Maja to return to his best and prove that he deserves that contract extension, if he begins next season as a West Brom player.