The Baggies love to dip into the Championship to find some transfer bargains, and having already signed James McClean and Calum McManaman from the Championship in recent transfer windows they could be well advised to dip back down a league to sign some of these five options.
Demarai Gray
The two players already mentioned had previous Premier League experience before the Baggies signed them, but this youngster hasn’t. However, Demarai Gray from Birmingham could prove to be a fantastic talent in the near future.
Birmingham have had a serious fight on their hands in trying to keep hold of their talented teenage winger after his breakthrough, with the bigger boys paying close attention.
He has recently committed to a new three-year deal at St Andrews, but that surely won’t put the Baggies off of this talented player with huge promise.
Gray is a huge talent, he possesses electric pace and loves running at defenders and beating them – no player under 21 completed more dribbles than Gray’s 66 last season. Along with that he has an eye for a goal, scoring six times last season including a hat trick against Reading. He is set for a huge future and should certainly be the sort of player the Baggies should be looking to sign.
Benik Afobe
Another top young talent the Baggies should be looking to sign is former Gunners man Benik Afobe. No player in England last season managed to out score the Wolves striker who netted a whopping 32 league efforts for MK Dons and Wolves.
Afobe was regarded highly at Arsenal, but injuries held him back and it wasn’t until last season that he really found his feet.
He is a ruthless finisher, has great pace, is a great dribbler and is physically strong, making him a typical all round modern centre forward, so he should find adapting to a higher level of football relatively easy.
He is a confidence player and admits himself his new found belief has kick-started his career, and if Tony Pulis could strike a deal for Afobe he would be getting a top up and coming talent and a real goalscorer.
Teddy Bishop
Teddy Bishop only turned 19 this month but has already become a key player for Ipswich Town after breaking through last season. After his breakthrough he made an impressive 35 appearances, and his performances caught the eye of many Premier League clubs.
The Albion would have to move fast for the youngster but he would be a top signing if a deal could be done. Bishop has drawn plaudits for showing a level of maturity beyond his years and his neat and tidy distribution in midfield. He has already got big game experience having started both legs of Ipswich’s play-off semi final against Norwich last season.
Jordan Rhodes
A more established player now in the shape of Blackburn Rovers striker Jordan Rhodes, who has always attracted a lot of interest from Premier League clubs.
A proven goalscorer in the lower divisions Rhodes hasn’t made the step up to the Premier League yet, nevertheless he’s scored over 20 Championship goals for Blackburn in his last three seasons, all the more impressive considering Rovers haven’t been challenging for promotion in that spell. Rhodes could be a good signing for the Baggies if he can transfer his form from Championship to the Premier League.
That will of course be the question mark around Rhodes but at just 25-years-old, time is on his side and a player with such quality of finishing, movement and ability will surely thrive in the Premier League given the chance, and maybe the Albion could give the Scotsman the chance he deserves.
Charlie Austin
Finally the last Championship player The Hawthorns based club should look to sign is QPR’s Charlie Austin, who will surely leave West London this summer.
Austin had a fantastic debut season in the Premier League scoring a superb 18 goals for the R’s despite the Super Hoops getting relegated, so the recently called up England man has the experience to lead the line for West Brom.
Whilst he could be pricey, he is proven and could well be a very good signing for Pulis men.