West Brom backed to revive West Ham transfer interest – He can be “useful” to Ryan Mason | OneFootball

FLW’s West Brom fan pundit believes Albion should look at making a move for West Ham midfielder George Earthy during the January transfer window.

This article is part of Football League World's 'Terrace Talk' series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more…

Despite earning a much-needed victory before the international break, West Brom will need to pick up more points quickly to ensure talk about Ryan Mason’s future doesn’t intensify.

After suffering three defeats in their last four league games prior to their meeting with Oxford United, Albion were in desperate search of three points, and it was looking bleak when former Baggies loanee Will Lankshear put the visitors in front.

As the atmosphere at The Hawthorns began to take a toxic turn, the Albion players rallied, as a Greg Leigh own goal just two minutes later dragged the hosts level, before Aune Heggebo’s superb header 20 minutes from time turned the tide and gave the ex-Tottenham Hotspur coach some respite.

However, it hasn’t been enough to convince some supporters that Mason is the right man to lead the club forward, and discontent could prove to rear its head yet again if Albion start their next block of fixtures in a disappointing manner.

This weekend, the Baggies face the daunting prospect of travelling to the CBS Arena to face table-topping Coventry City, before a fiery West Midlands derby follows in midweek against Birmingham City, while November is wrapped up with another home encounter against currently managerless Swansea City.

As the weeks go on leading into the January transfer window, Mason may be looking to the hierarchy for help to bolster the squad so he can turn their fortunes around.

This could be particularly important if Albion find themselves in and around the play-offs come the turn of the year, with the January transfer window having the potential to throw up some surprising deals in years gone by that could go on to affect the outcome of their season.

With this in mind, FLW’s West Brom fan pundit has issued his thoughts on one player Albion should go back in for in January who they were linked with back in the summer.

West Brom urged to approach West Ham over George Earthy loan deal

Speaking to Football League World, West Brom fan pundit Callum Burgess has advised Albion to approach West Ham over a loan deal for midfielder George Earthy, after the Baggies were linked with a move for the 21-year-old in the summer, as per a report by GiveMeSport.

Callum said: “I’m really struggling to remember many names at all that Albion were linked with in the summer, but I remember on deadline day there were some rumours late in the day about a move for George Earthy on loan that could have come to fruition, but ultimately didn’t in the end after he decided to stay at West Ham and turned down several Championship clubs.

“But I think after that he’s not played much football in the first half of the season, and if he does want to go back out on loan like he was at Bristol City last year, then Albion should be in the queue of teams because we are lacking midfielders like him.

“He wouldn’t be expected to start over Isaac Price, of course, but with Tammer Bany’s injury problems, it would be useful to bring in another attacking midfielder who can provide some energy in the midfield and get on the end of a couple of chances, as Price has does so well.

“So, out of the few names I can remember, Earthy should be someone Albion are looking at.”

West Brom would bolster attacking midfield department with George Earthy signing

George Earthy is one of the latest batch of English stock that is ready to make their mark in the professional game, with the talented youngster gaining his first taste of Championship action last season.

While only recording three goals and one assist at Ashton Gate, Earthy did feature 37 times and made 11 starts for a team that ultimately finished in the play-offs last season, with that achievement no easy feat.

He definitely has the talent and quality at second-tier level to be a dangerous force, while he would stand a realistic chance of earning regular gametime at The Hawthorns, unlike at the London Stadium currently.

Isaac Price, of course, would be first choice in that area of the pitch, but with the relentless scheduling of the Championship, Albion will need more bodies to take the load off others, and Earthy seems like an ideal replacement to add fresher legs given Tammer Bany needs time to work his way back from a serious hamstring injury.

Given the Baggies’ woes in the final third too, it wouldn’t do much harm to add another option to the mix and see if they can help the attack click, which will be imperative to ensuring Albion are in the promotion conversation at the end of the season.