Crystal Palace attacker signs: How West Brom’s dream January transfer window looks | OneFootball

FLW outlines the transfer business Albion should be looking to do in January.

West Brom will be hopeful of competing for promotion back to the Premier League and ending a five-year exodus from the top flight, but they may require a big January transfer window for that to happen.

The Baggies are currently led by Ryan Mason, who is embarking on his first full-time managerial role since departing Tottenham Hotspur as a first-team coach.

The former Hull City midfielder has learned from the likes of Mauricio Pochettino, Antonio Conte, José Mourinho and Ange Postecoglou respectively, as he now looks to showcase the skills he has built up to lead the Baggies to success this season.

Mason’s early period as Baggies boss has been frustrating for supporters to say the least though, but Albion are far from out of staking a claim for a promotion push this campaign, and the January transfer window could be a defining period for this aim to bear fruit.

At the turn of the new year, a lot of surprising deals can unfold when players have a last opportunity of securing game time for the remainder of the season, and Albion should be a club looking to be busy if they want to cement themselves towards the upper end of the second-tier table.

With this in mind, Football League World has listed players the Baggies should both buy and sell in order to have the perfect January transfer window.

In: George Earthy, West Ham United

First up is West Ham attacking midfielder George Earthy, who is yet to secure a move away from the London Stadium this season after tasting his first second tier experience last term at Bristol City.

At Ashton Gate, Earthy featured 40 times in all competitions, and while he only recorded three goals and one assist in that time, he was a first-team regular for a side that finished in the play-offs, with that achievement no easy feat.

He definitely has the talent and quality at second tier level to be a dangerous force, and the Baggies were linked with securing his services deep into the summer transfer window, although a deal didn't get over the line.

Meanwhile, Albion do need to take some of the burden off Isaac Price in the number 10 position, given Tammer Bany’s injury record is far from a pretty sight.

While Earthy wouldn’t be first-choice to play behind the striker, he would push the levels of competition in that area immensely, and it is a loan deal that would seemingly fit both parties for the second half of the campaign.

In: Romain Esse, Crystal Palace

Another area of the pitch West Brom have been weakened in is on the right-wing, with the Baggies feeling the effect after selling academy product Tom Fellows this summer.

In an attempt to fill the gap, Albion brought in Aston Villa’s Samuel Iling-Junior on loan, but the wideman has yet to prove that he has what it takes to put up the numbers that Fellows did during his time in the blue and white stripes.

Like the attacking midfield area, further competition and quality is needed, and Crystal Palace’s Romain Esse could be an ideal target as he struggles to make an impact at Selhurst Park.

Approaching a year on from his £12m move from Millwall, the 20-year-old is yet to find his feet in the Premier League, making a handful of top flight appearances and receiving criticism from boss Oliver Glasner back in September for not getting the basics right in a Carabao Cup penalty shootout victory over the Lions.

With his future in serious doubt heading into January, it’s a loan deal the Baggies should be eyeing up.

Esse needs an environment to get back to his best after a difficult patch with the Eagles, and did most of his damage at the Den off the right flank, although he can feature on the opposite flank or as an attacking midfielder to suit different opposition.

His tricky nature and versatility are two qualities that he could bring to this Albion side, and the Baggies should be going all out to add some more dynamism in the final third.

Out: Jed Wallace

When it comes to departures, Jed Wallace should be a priority.

After registering 37 goals and 39 assists in over 200 second-tier appearances at Millwall, there was so much optimism that Wallace could be the key to getting Albion free-scoring and potent in the final third upon signing for the club in the summer of 2022, but it hasn’t been the case.

Wallace has been unable to get into double figures for goals or assists throughout his time at The Hawthorns, with his best return coming in his debut campaign when he notched six goals and eight assists.

2024-25’s tally of just a solitary goal and an assist epitomised the decline the 31-year-old has been on, while injuries are starting to creep in, which is making it increasingly difficult to see him returning to his best.

Again, it seems another deal that isn’t going to work out on the pitch, and with the club captain’s deal running down next summer, Albion should try a last-ditch effort to gain some funds.

Out: Daryl Dike

Similarly, Daryl Dike is another player who has had a rotten time at Albion and faces being a free agent come next summer.

Joining for a reported £7m fee from Orlando City back in January 2022, the American international has had a host of devastating injury issues, with hamstring, thigh and two Achilles problems seeing him play an extremely limited number of games since arriving at The Hawthorns.

A prolific goalscorer on his day at this level, but the trouble for Albion over a long time has been keeping him on the pitch and helping the team.

The club can’t afford to keep having a player on their books that is constantly on the treatment table, and he should be another player that Albion should put on the market in January to see if a club wants to take a punt on him so funds can be added to the coffers.