West Bromwich Albion’s business in the summer transfer window may not be done yet as they look for further additions before tonight’s deadline.
Unlike several Championship teams, the Baggies do not have the distraction of having a competitive match this evening, which means that James Morrison can focus on bringing players to the club.
One area of the pitch that they could look to strengthen in is the forward line after Morrison’s side were beaten 3-1 by Middlesbrough in their latest clash.
Why West Brom need an upgrade on Barney Stewart
Jimmy Jay Morgan and Aune Heggebo made a near-perfect start to the campaign when they both scored in the 2-1 win over Norwich City, albeit the latter was then banned for two matches for handling the ball into the net.
After Heggebo’s ban, Morgan was given the nod as the sole number nine by Morrison, but the former Chelsea man failed to show the physicality required in that role.
The ex-Southampton youngster lost six of his seven physical battles in the loss to Middlesbrough, before Barney Stewart and the Norwegian striker were brought on in the second half.
Since his permanent move from Falkirk in the summer, Stewart has yet to show that he has what it takes to be a quality performer for the Baggies, failing to score in five appearances in all competitions.
26/27 Championship | Barney Stewart |
|---|---|
Appearances | 3 |
Shots | 0 |
Goals | 0 |
Key passes | 0 |
Assists | 0 |
Ground duel success rate | 33% |
Aerial duel success rate | 50% |
The Baggies, therefore, may want to find a more effective option than the Scottish ace to ensure that Morrison has a striker to start alongside Morgan or Heggebo when one of them is available.
Stewart’s performances so far suggest that he may not be at the level required to start Championship matches on a regular basis, which is why a new striker should be brought in.
How West Brom can land a deadline upgrade on Barney Stewart
Now, the club are said to be looking at a player who could arrive at The Hawthorns as an upgrade on the Scottish marksman before the deadline.
According to Irish journalist Daniel McDonnell, West Bromwich Albion are one of the teams in the running to sign Celtic centre-forward Johnny Kenny before the end of the summer transfer window.
The reporter claims that the Baggies, Blackburn Rovers, Preston North End, and Bolton Wanderers are all in to secure a deal for the Ireland international in the coming hours.
He adds that it would likely be a permanent move for the Hoops marksman, and reveals that Preston and Bolton are the two favourites for his signature at this time.
(Editor’s note: Sky Sports now reports that Preston are closing in on a £3m deal for the striker, which means that West Brom will need to move quickly if they want to hijack the move)
The 23-year-old attacker spent the second half of last season on loan at Bolton in League One, which may give them an advantage in this race, but the Baggies should push to strike a deal ahead of their rivals.
His form in the third tier earlier this year suggests that he has the potential to be an exciting addition to the squad as an upgrade on Stewart this season.
25/26 League One | Johnny Kenny |
|---|---|
Appearances | 14 |
Starts | 11 |
xG | 4.52 |
Goals | 6 |
Big chances created | 4 |
xA | 2.85 |
Assists | 3 |
The Irishman hit the ground running with Bolton in League One after joining them on loan in January, racking up nine goals and assists combined in only 11 starts.
He showed that he has the potential to score goals and create high-quality chances for his teammates at an impressive rate, which is something that Stewart has yet to do.
The Scottish striker scored eight goals and created two ‘big chances’ in 17 starts in the Premiership during the second half of last season, suggesting that Kenny could offer an even greater threat in front of goal.
Celtic’s striker matched Stewart’s return of goals and ‘big chances’ combined at league level in six fewer starts, whilst he also scored four goals and created four ‘big chances’ in eight Premiership starts in the first half of the campaign for the Hoops.
Kenny’s form in England and in Scotland suggests that he would arrive at The Hawthorns as an upgrade on Stewart, by offering more quality as a scorer and a creator of goals, which is why the club should push to win the race for his signature.
