West Bromwich Albion went into the summer time switch window figuring out that they must make investments cash in reinforcements for his or her assault.
The Baggies solely scored 48 targets in 46 matches within the Championship within the 2025/26 marketing campaign, which was one of many major the explanation why they ended up ending twenty first within the division.
James Morrison’s aspect narrowly prevented relegation right down to League One and failed to attain in three of their final six video games of the season, highlighting the shortage of menace they carried on the prime finish of the pitch.
The membership wanted an injection of high quality within the closing third to make sure that they’ve sufficient firepower to push for promotion to the Premier League subsequent time period.
They had been fast out of the traps to herald centre-forward Barney Stewart on a everlasting deal from Falkirk and Jimmy-Jay Morgan from Chelsea.
The place Jimmy-Jay Morgan may play for West Bromwich Albion
Morgan is an intriguing signing for the Baggies as a result of they’ve introduced him in on a everlasting foundation from the Premier League giants, and there are a number of positions that he’s able to enjoying.
Morrison usually deployed a 4-2-3-1 or 4-4-2 formation after taking the reins from Eric Ramsay at The Hawthorns final time period, however most groups that earn promotion are likely to play with a 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3 system in order that they’ll dominate possession and management midfield.
With this in thoughts, the Scottish tactician could need to construct in direction of a 4-2-3-1 system somewhat than a 4-4-2 set-up, which is why the previous Chelsea teenager may slot in as a quantity ten for the Baggies.
|
Jimmy-Jay Morgan’s youth and senior profession |
|
|---|---|
|
Place |
Appearances |
|
CF |
54 |
|
AM |
34 |
|
RW |
6 |
|
LW |
2 |
|
LM |
1 |
|
RM |
1 |
|
SS |
1 |
Morgan is able to enjoying as a centre-forward or as a quantity ten, however the signing of Stewart and the presence of Aune Heggebo suggests that he’s not more likely to play many minutes as an out-and-out quantity 9.
Due to this fact, the English ace, who scored 14 targets in 39 video games on mortgage at Peterborough United final time period, may very well be Morrison’s go-to choice within the attacking midfield place in a 4-2-3-1 set-up.
While the 20-year-old whiz seems like a promising expertise who may very well be a key participant for the Baggies, the membership should nonetheless rue the truth that they misplaced a much better quantity ten for nothing 5 years in the past.
West Brom misplaced a greater participant than Jimmy-Jay Morgan for nothing
It nonetheless stays to be seen how Morgan will adapt to the Championship after he scored 12 targets and supplied three assists in 34 matches in League One in the course of the 2025/26 marketing campaign.
In the meantime, a former West Brom academy expertise produced extra aim involvements for an additional workforce within the Championship final time period, 5 years on from leaving the membership for nothing.
Finn Azaz got here up by way of the Baggies’ academy system earlier than leaving on the finish of his contract to signal for Aston Villa on a free switch in the summertime of 2021.
|
Finn Azaz’s profession since leaving West Brom |
||
|---|---|---|
|
Season (Membership) |
Targets |
Assists |
|
25/26 (Middlesbrough/Southampton) |
12 |
8 |
|
24/25 (Middlesbrough) |
12 |
11 |
|
23/24 (Plymouth/Middlesbrough) |
11 |
10 |
|
22/23 (Plymouth Argyle) |
8 |
9 |
|
21/22 (Newport County) |
7 |
7 |
After mortgage spells with Newport County and Plymouth, the Eire worldwide joined Plymouth on a everlasting deal from Villa and subsequently signed for Middlesbrough and Southampton within the Championship lately.
The Saints paid a charge of £12m to signal Azaz from Boro in the summertime switch window final yr after his haul of 23 aim contributions within the 2024/25 marketing campaign in all competitions.
He adopted that up with 11 targets, 15 ‘massive probabilities’ created, and eight assists within the Championship within the 2025/26 season, displaying his constant high quality as each a scorer and a creator of targets from an attacking midfield place.
Azaz is likely one of the greatest quantity tens within the second tier in the meanwhile, as a result of he now has a number of seasons of constant performances within the closing third, and will probably be anticipated to be one of many prime performers in his place but once more subsequent time period.
The 25-year-old star produced extra aim contributions (19) within the Championship than Morgan managed in League One (15), which suggests that he’s the significantly better participant within the current.
It, subsequently, stays a disgrace that the Baggies had been unable to persuade him to pen a brand new contract at The Hawthorns after he had racked up 16 targets and 9 assists in 85 appearances for the membership’s U18s and U21s mixed.
He opted to strive his luck at Villa and was in the end offered to Plymouth within the decrease tiers earlier than working his manner again up by way of Middlesbrough and Southampton, when he may have come by way of within the Championship with West Brom.
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West Bromwich Albion should be part of Southampton within the race to signal this ahead in the summertime switch window.
Hopefully, Morgan will kick on and develop throughout his time at West Brom and go on to be an excellent higher participant than Azaz sooner or later, while the Irishman has the sting for now.
