West Brom hold goal machine key in Reading FC & Port Vale transfer chase | OneFootball

Devante Cole is leaving West Brom, but while he was a flop for them he's a proven League One goalscorer; Reading and Port Vale should be interested.

Devante Cole is set to leave West Bromwich Albion after a disappointing spell at The Hawthorns, but he's a proven goalscorer in League One and both Reading and Port Vale should be chasing his signature.

It's been an extremely busy summer at West Bromwich Albion. New head coach Ryan Mason has arrived from Spurs, and extensive changes are being made to the first-team squad following a disappointing 9th-placed finish at the end of the 2024-25 season.

But such changes aren't good for everybody, and one player whose time at The Hawthorns is coming to an end is striker Devante Cole. Son of the former Manchester United striker Andrew, Cole signed from Barnsley just a year ago, but it's already been reported that, with Albion pursuing other options up front for the new season, the club are prepared to let him move on.

Reading and Port Vale are among those interested in Devante Cole

League One clubs have already been alerted to Cole's availability. RDG Today have reported that Reading are interested in taking him, and that there's also interest from other League One clubs, including newly-promoted Port Vale.

Reading are light on attacking options for the start of the new season, after having finished last season in 7th place in League One and just three points from a play-off place, not an inconsiderable achievement, considering that the club was in a state of chaos for much of the season before their sale to the former Wycombe Wanderers owner Rob Couhig was confirmed at the very end of the season.

But RDG Today report that the striker's preferred destination could be Vale Park.

Port Vale were promoted as runners-up behind Doncaster Rovers at the end of the 2024-25 season, though the fact that they only scored 65 goals in their 46 League games indicates that they need strengthening in attacking positions as well if they're to secure their place back in League One next season.

Cole is a proven League One goalscorer

To see why Devante Cole could be of such interest to League One clubs, we have to look past his West Bromwich Albion disappointment.

Cole joined on a free transfer from Barnsley in the summer of 2024, and it was here that he'd proven his worth in this division.

Over the previous two seasons, Cole netted 33 times in the League for Barnsley, 15 times during the 2022-23 season and then 18 times during the 2023-24 season. Barnsley reached the League One play-offs at the end of both of these seasons, losing to Sheffield Wednesday after extra-time at Wembley in 2023 and then narrowly to Bolton Wanderers in the semi-finals the following year.

It's notable that, with Cole having departed for the Black Country, Barnsley seemed to suffer because of his absence. Their 2024-25 season ended with them in 12th place in League One, their lowest final league position for twenty years.

Both Reading and Port Vale have clearly defined targets for the 2025-26 season. Reading will be looking to improve upon their near-miss, while Port Vale will be looking to solidify their position back in League One following a year away.

Both of these clubs need goals, and Devante Cole is a proven goalscorer in League One. Both should be falling over themselves to try and get his signature.