Exclusive: David Prutton makes Josh Maja, West Brom transfer claim - Key deciding factor revealed | OneFootball

Speaking exclusively with FLW, David Prutton has been discussing the future of West Brom's star striker, Josh Maja.

Josh Maja had been enjoying an excellent season for West Brom before suffering a serious lower leg injury in January.

The 26-year-old centre-forward was already into double-figure goals prior to his injury setback at the start of the year.

Evidently, his goals and presence in attack has been a massive blow for the Baggies, who have since fallen out of the play-off places and have parted company with manager Tony Mowbray.

Maja has been the subject of major transfer interest in recent times, with Premier League giants such as Chelsea and Spurs even said to have been interested in the Nigerian striker during the winter transfer window.

Speaking exclusively with Football League World, we asked Sky Sports pundit and former player, David Prutton: 'Josh Maja was linked with several top clubs in January. Do you expect him to remain a Baggies player past this summer?'

Prutton said: "It's a case of keeping him fit with Josh, isn't it?

"It's whether West Brom can afford not to cash in on him. It's whether they think he's going to be part of a promotion push, and it's also whether he wants to remain at a club where sometimes you need a new lease of life.

"Whether sometimes a change is as beneficial for the player as it is for the club as well? So, I think if you are a West Brom manager coming into that situation, you'd want to keep him.

"But, as I said, sometimes those factors are dealt with by the money."

Josh Maja sale could help fund a major overhaul of West Brom's squad this summer

West Brom feel like a club, and a squad, that is heading towards a major shakeup this summer.

A new manager will be leading the Baggies next season, and you would expect the club would want Mowbray's replacement in the job prior to the start of the summer transfer window.

Regardless of who that is, they will be keen to stamp their own authority on the team, which is one that does feel as though it desperately needs an injection of new blood and quality if they are to mount a more serious promotion push next season.

Selling your best players can be counter-effective to that pursuit, but the sale of Maja could go a long way to helping that new boss bring in 3-4 quality players, and help spread talent around the team.

With Grady Diangana, Jed Wallace and Semi Ayaji all out of contract at the Hawthorns this summer, and with Adam Armstrong, Will Lankshear and Mason Holgate set to return to their parent clubs, West Brom could be set to lose six first-team players pretty much straight off the bat come the end of the season.

Given those out of contract players would leave on a free, Albion may feel as though they need to recoup some transfer funds lost on those players via a big-name sale, and Maja could provide them with that.

It will be fascinating to see what course of action both the club and Maja take towards his future this summer.