"Move on" - Barnsley sent clear Devante Cole transfer advice as West Brom exit looms | OneFootball

Barnsley's former top scorer will be made available this summer.

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...

Devante Cole is looking likely to leave West Bromwich Albion after just one season with the club.

It has been reported by Darren Witcoop that, amid the club's desire to sign another centre-forward this summer, after bringing in Aune Heggebo, Cole's time at the Hawthorns is likely to come to an end sooner rather than later.

He joined the Championship club after leaving Barnsley as a free agent last summer and penned a two-year deal. The 30-year-old son of former Manchester United legend Andy Cole only made 14 second tier appearances last term, none of which he started.

Now that he is likely to move on from West Brom, his old stomping ground at Oakwell is a destination that may be on the cards for Cole. His spell with them was fruitful, netting 43 goals in 152 appearances, but he was never able to get them over the line and back up to the Championship.

Barnsley told to avoid Devante Cole reunion

According to Andy Symcox, Football League World's Barnsley fan pundit, it'd be a mistake for Conor Hourihane's side to reunite with the Jamaican.

"I think it would be helpful for Devante to leave West Brom as he has hardly featured since signing for them from Oakwell," said the Tykes supporter.

"However, in his final season with us, he had both good and bad parts of the season. The first half of the season, he was excellent and scored many goals. However, from New Year in the second half of the season, he was poor, both in his general play and particularly in his goal scoring.

"So for me, personally, I would think we need to move on from him. If he was to return, I would give him my support, but I would not be particularly keen on Devante returning to Oakwell."

Devante Cole isn't the answer for Barnsley

It's a new era for Barnsley with Hourihane in charge. They're looking to get away from what held them back from getting over the hump previously, so to go back to one of the pillars of that time in Cole would feel like a strange move by them.

Firstly, they'd probably have to pay some form of fee for the 30-year-old. Why would they sign a player that they decided to release last summer who is now one year older and has played very little football since then?

They could do with another centre-forward. David McGoldrick is their number one option as things stand, but after him they don't have a huge amount of depth. Based on what we've seen from Cole over the past season-and-a-half, he's not the answer to Barnsley's problems.