4 players that could save West Brom millions of pounds | OneFootball

West Bromwich Albion will be looking to build on a largely successful 2023/24 campaign.

After years of instability, the club and its supporters now have genuine cause for optimism that the Baggies can progress forward and stabilise themselves as a frontrunner in the Championship promotion race.

Albion were ultimately well-beaten in the play-off semi-finals against eventual winners Southampton, but a fifth-place finish provided a benchmark for Carlos Corberan, who looks set to stay at The Hawthorns despite prior links to Leicester City and Burnley.

The emergence of homegrown talent is something that supporters have become more accustomed to in B71, particularly as a number of youngsters have spent time on loan in League One or League Two this season, as well as Longbridge-born Tom Fellows, who made 33 appearances in the second tier last season, scoring four times.

Professional Development Phase coach Richard Beale has also recently referenced the plethora of talents coming through in this part of the West Midlands, setting a challenge out to all of those in the process.

“We’re challenging the boys every day and asking, ‘who’s next, who’s going to get in the manager’s eye-line’, and I can safely say we've got one or two who are doing that at the moment," he told the club website.

With that in mind, Football League World have selected the next crop of players who could save the club millions in the transfer market by emerging as first-team regulars.

Caleb Taylor

Beginning this quartet is centre-back Caleb Taylor, who so far, has made just nine appearances for Albion in his senior career, having progressed through the ranks.

Taylor excelled whilst on loan at Cheltenham Town in League One in the 2022/23 campaign, before being on the fringes of Albion's first-team squad at the beginning of last season, making three substitute appearances, as well as being named on the bench a further 13 times.

The 21-year-old was then sent on loan to Bolton Wanderers in January, where he suffered the misfortune of an ankle ligament injury in February, only making three appearances upon his return.

Prior to that injury, Corberan made a claim regarding Taylor's development, and where that might lead him in the future.

He said: “If you ask me ‘are you happy with Caleb?’ I am very happy and I think he is going to be our future centre-back because he has all of the conditions to be an important player for West Bromwich Albion,"

It has recently been reported that Trabzonspor have begun talks with Ivorian defender Cedric Kipre, who has been an immense performer under Corberan. If the former Wigan man was to leave over the summer, that could easily open the door once again for Taylor, who has one year left on his current contract.

Jamie Andrews

Another experienced pro in the same boat as Kipre is the technically gifted Alex Mowatt, as his future in the West Midlands remains up in the air despite being offered a new deal as per the club's retained list.

This could open the door for 21-year-old Jamie Andrews to stake a claim in the first-team fold, having impressed whilst on loan at Grimsby Town.

Andrews was described as a midfielder who showcases great versatility by Mariners boss Paul Hurst, a key asset also required in the Championship, whilst Corberan looks to bring down the average age of his squad.

“He can play as an eight, whether it is the right side or left side, and he can play if we go with two holding midfield players,"Hurst said of Andrews after his Grimsby debut.

The central midfield player made 37 appearances for Grimsby last season and registered one assist, on top of two outings as captain of Albion's Under-21 squad in August, where he netted twice against local rivals Aston Villa.

Layton Love

19-year-old Layton Love recently saw West Brom trigger a one-year extension on his contract, keeping him at The Hawthorns until next summer at least.

However, if he keeps up his development, he could save the club a hefty amount of money in the transfer market down the line.

Last season, the Tipton-born forward netted five times and registered four assists in Premier League 2, building on a previous record of 20 goals in two seasons for the Under-18's.

The 6"4 man gained his first experiences of a senior matchday with Albion last season, featuring on the bench against QPR in October, as well as making a 17-minute cameo in the 4-1 win over Aldershot in the FA Cup Third Round.

Love may be sent out on loan to build on a short stint at National League North side Brackley Town, but if he impresses at a higher level, he could establish himself on the fringes of Corberan's plans if a new deal is offered in 12 months' time.

Harry Whitwell

Rounding off this list is 18-year-old Harry Whitwell, who has generated plenty of noise with his rise through the West Brom academy.

Whitwell received the honour of the club's Academy Player of the Season in 2022/23, having made a seamless transition to Under-21's football, despite being so young compared to a number of his colleagues.

Similarly to the aforementioned Andrews, Whitwell is a versatile central midfield player, who ended the Premier League 2 campaign strongly with two goals in the final three games of the season.

Furthermore, he was named on the bench in three Championship outings, before temporarily announcing himself on the senior stage with an assist for Tom Fellows, who's own performances in the second tier have given a beacon of hope to plenty in the youth ranks at West Brom.