“A real coup” – West Brom told to move for Ipswich Town, Southampton players in January | OneFootball

Albion fan pundit Callum Burgess believes Albion should identify loan targets from Premier League clubs to bolster the squad in January.

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…

Despite West Bromwich Albion navigating their way through challenging financial restrictions, the January transfer window will open up an opportunity for the club to bolster their squad in order to maintain a promotion push back to the Premier League.

American businessman Shilen Patel recently acquired Albion for a reported sum of £60 million, but the club are still reeling from the previous ownership of Guochuan Lai, and have been placed since the summer under an EFL-imposed business plan to avoid breaking Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR).

This will undoubtedly hinder the volume of activity the Black Country outfit will be able to make heading into the new year, with a sell-to-buy approach likely to be considered for the club to abide by the EFL’s demands.

Regardless of the limitations, the Baggies did manage to recruit 11 new faces to The Hawthorns during the summer, with the Albion faithful wanting to see further additions to take the club one step further and back into the promised land of the top flight.

With the January transfer window just around the corner, West Brom fan pundit Callum Burgess has offered the club some advice on which players they should be pursuing.

West Brom offered January window targets

Speaking exclusively to Football League World, Baggies fan pundit Callum Burgess believes the Baggies should be operating in the loan market, targeting players from Premier League clubs who haven’t had a consistent run of first team football.

Burgess said: “I think it would be smart for Albion to look at Premier League clubs and their reserve players to see who could make a potential impact during the second half of the season.

“For example, I’d target the likes of Ronnie Edwards, who hasn’t been getting much game time at Southampton since moving from Peterborough in the summer. If Albion were to sign him on loan, then he would be a real coup and could be able to have a positive impact on the team with his ball-playing ability from the back.

“I think he would be a really good signing and suit Carlos Corberan’s style of play, and Corberan would be able to improve his defensive side of the game too.

“I also think Albion should look at Ipswich Town to try see if they can get Ali Al-Hamadi on loan too. I would also love the club to look for another midfielder as well.”

Burgess added: “The ideal January transfer window for me would be signing Edwards and Al-Hamadi on loan, along with a midfielder, and if we’re lucky, towards the end of the window, potentially another attacker.

“When you look at West Brom’s attacking options off the bench with (John) Swift, (Grady) Diangana, (Lewis) Dobbin and (Jed) Wallace, they haven’t been able to contribute much when called upon, so another player who can impact games as a substitute will definitely be a priority for us.”

Premier League loan market an ideal place for West Brom to search

With the beginning of the new year such a tricky time to negotiate player deals, the Black Country outfit should try to snatch away buried gems from top-flight sides.

The suggestions of Edwards and Al-Hamadi make logical sense, with Corberan’s outfit in desperate need of cover at both ends of the pitch heading into the second half of the Championship term.

A commanding and hungry central defender could be what is required to partner Kyle Bartley at the heart of the backline, with loanee Mason Holgate struggling to fill the holes left by Cedric Kipre’s exit and Semi Ajayi’s injury absence.

Meanwhile, competition is vital up front for leading scorer Josh Maja, with summer recruit Devante Cole yet to stamp his authority on the first-team picture. Al-Hamadi will surely be eager to prove himself as a valuable second-tier option after struggling to earn consistent starts under Kieran McKenna with the Tractor Boys.

It will be interesting to see the route Albion decides to take in the January market, with the business completed likely to impact where the club finishes come the end of the season.