West Brom among Championship clubs eyeing Southampton striker Cameron Archer | OneFootball

West Bromwich Albion are among several Championship sides weighing a move for Southampton striker Cameron Archer, but face significant competition from rivals.

According to ExpressAndStar.com, the 24-year-old, born in Walsall, is admired as a target to bolster boss James Morrison’s forward options.

Archer’s career has stalled somewhat since a big-money switch to Southampton two years ago. He joined from Villa Park in 2024 for a fee reported to start at £15million, and made 35 appearances that Premier League season, 13 as a starter.

His minutes did not increase last term in the Championship, which ended amid a ‘spygate’ scandal for Tonda Eckert’s side. It remains unclear what kind of deal Southampton would sanction.

Morrison’s current forwards are last season’s top scorer Aune Heggebo plus summer arrivals Jimmy-Jay Morgan and Barney Stewart. Daryl Dike has been released, while Josh Maja, out of contract despite a new offer, is set to move elsewhere. Karlan Grant has joined Charlton and Jed Wallace has switched to Bristol City.

Archer has shown his Championship pedigree on loan at Preston and Middlesbrough between 2021 and 2023, and Albion were previously linked during his Villa days. He also spent a Premier League campaign with Sheffield United before his move to Hampshire.

The striker is the youngest of four brothers, all forwards in professional or non-league football. He scored four times for Villa in the early stages of the 2021/22 EFL Cup, including a hat-trick at Barrow and a goal at Stamford Bridge in a penalty shootout defeat to Chelsea.

Source: ExpressAndStar.com