"It’s hard to see" – Forward tipped to leave West Brom in 2025 | OneFootball

West Brom fan pundit Callum Burgess has urged the Baggies to part ways with Reyes Cleary when his contract expires at The Hawthorns next summer.

West Bromwich Albion forward Reyes Cleary has returned to the club from his loan spell at League Two side Walsall.

The 20-year-old joined the Saddlers in the hope of more regular first-team football but barely kicked a ball in the West Midlands, featuring just three times as he was unable to stamp his authority on a squad cruising at the top of League Two.

The plan for Cleary from a West Brom perspective was to gain much-needed experience down the lower leagues and come back to the Baggies to make a positive impact at Championship level, but this latest unsuccessful loan spell has cast doubt over his Albion future entirely, with the frontman’s contract expiring this summer.

A poor showing in the fourth tier means it is very unlikely Cleary will gain a playing role in the Championship under the new incoming West Brom manager, with another loan spell in the second half of the season likely to be taken, and will dictate his future in B71.

With the January transfer window in full swing, West Brom fan pundit Callum Burgess has offered his thoughts on the situation and what the Baggies should do next.

Reyes Cleary future set to be away from West Brom

Speaking exclusively to Football League World, Baggies fan pundit Callum Burgess believes Reyes Cleary seems destined for a permanent move away from the club this summer but thinks a loan move to a team lower down the table in League Two may be beneficial in the meantime.

Burgess said: “I think it’s hard to see Reyes Cleary remaining a West Bromwich Albion player beyond the expiry of his contract this summer. His loan was a bit of a make or break for him about whether he would be able to stay at Albion in the future.

“Unfortunately for him, he’s found himself at a very good League Two side, behind quite a few players in the pecking order like Nathan Lowe, Danny Johnson and Jamile Matt. Many wouldn’t have foreseen Walsall having the season they have done, and it would have been hoped Cleary would have been able to share some minutes around with the other strikers, but that hasn’t been the case.”

Burgess added: “I think if Cleary had gone to a team more mid-table where there isn’t as much of a weight or expectation on their shoulders compared to Walsall to win the division, then he could have done a lot better.

“It’s disappointing to see Cleary having not much of a future at Albion as there was a lot of excitement around him after he broke through at youth level, scoring so many goals for the under 21’s, but that failure to make the step-up to first league football, whether it was cameo appearances off the bench or on loan, means that it’s doubtful we’ll see Cleary still at Albion after the summer.”

West Brom will have a big decision to make in the summer about Reyes Cleary’s future at the club.

It's very concerning Cleary hasn’t been able to be a dominant force in League Two regardless of the club he is at, with Albion hoping he could be a difference-maker in either the Championship or Premier League in the not-too-distant future.

With the likes of Josh Maja and Karlan Grant exceeding expectations in front of goal so far this term, it seems inconceivable that Cleary has what it takes to compete against them in the first-team picture right now, so another loan option seems the best and most logical option.

In a new environment, the Baggies will be hoping Cleary will be rejuvenated and have a fresh injection of confidence to earn another contract extension at The Hawthorns, but as of now, it seems he is is destined for the exit door if he can’t turn this slump around.