West Brom can rectify their costly January error with Luton Town transfer raid | OneFootball

West Brom's decision to sell Alex Palmer backfired, and Luton Town's Thomas Kaminski should be on their radar to improve their goalkeeping department.

West Brom endured a miserable second half to the season that ultimately saw them miss out on a place in the play-offs.

There were many key moments for the Baggies over the course of the campaign, with Carlos Corberan’s decision to leave for Valencia undoubtedly the most significant.

Whilst he has excelled in La Liga, Albion stumbled under Tony Mowbray, to the extent that the former boss was sacked with two games to go.

West Brom’s January gamble backfired

However, it would be unfair to say Albion’s failure to reach the play-offs was all down to Mowbray, and questions will be asked of the January business that took place - and Alex Palmer’s sale in particular.

It came as a huge surprise when it was announced on deadline day that Ipswich had signed the keeper in a deal worth up to £5m, with that money helping West Brom sign Adam Armstrong on loan, along with Tammer Bany on a permanent basis.

Whilst it’s too soon to judge Bany, the 21-year-old has only made four appearances with injuries restricting his impact. Meanwhile, Armstrong scored just three times in 16 outings.

If that wasn’t bad enough, Joe Wildsmith, who replaced Palmer, lost his place in the XI after making mistakes, and Josh Griffiths has been inconsistent since he stepped in.

West Brom should target Luton Town’s Thomas Kaminski

In Palmer, they had someone who was a standout performer at this level. He won the golden glove last season, and he kept 11 clean sheets in 30 appearances before departing for Portman Road.

So, they’re big gloves to fill, but, generally, if you want to be in the mix for promotion, you need a quality keeper.

Therefore, bringing in a new number one is likely to be a priority for Albion this summer, and Luton Town’s Thomas Kaminski should be on their radar.

The Hatters’ relegation to League One has left them vulnerable to losing players, so prising the 32-year-old from Kenilworth Road might not be that difficult, and he should be available for a reasonable fee.

Like most of his teammates, Kaminski didn’t convince this season, but that shouldn’t take away from the fact that he has been a solid keeper since he arrived in England.

In three years with Blackburn, the Belgian international established himself as one of the top keepers in the division, which is why Luton brought him in following their promotion to the top-flight.

Despite their relegation, Kaminski impressed in the Premier League, and there was talk that Leicester could offer £10m to bring him in. Obviously, that didn’t materialise, but it shows Kaminski was highly-rated just 12 months ago.

West Brom need to get summer business right this summer

The immediate concern for Albion is to bring in a new manager, and they will have a big say in the recruitment, but it should be apparent a new keeper is required.

And, Kaminski fits the bill. It’s not the sort of signing that will overly excite the supporters, but he is a reliable, experienced stopper who is an upgrade on what they have.

After rolling the dice mid-season with Palmer’s sale, Albion found out how important it is to have a very good keeper at this level, and bringing Kaminski to The Hawthorns means they will have replaced the Ipswich man, even if it’s six months too late.