West Brom plot move for two-time Championship promotion winner – he played 29 times in the Premier League last term
West Bromwich Albion are expected to be active this summer as they kickstart a new era of management with Ryan Mason at the helm next season.
Mason arrives from Tottenham Hotspur for his first stint in professional management after seven years learning his trade as a coach in North London. In that period he progressed from a youth team coach to an assistant manager and got to absorb information from the likes of Jose Mourinho, Antonio Conte, Nuno Espirito Santo and most recently Ange Postecoglou with the pair helping Spurs achieve their first major honour since 2008 last term.
The 34-year-old, who becomes the youngest coach in the Championship, is immediately tasked with trying to guide West Brom into the Premier league for the first time since 2021 and at the bare minimum will be expected to achieve a top six finish after an underwhelming end to last term under Tony Mowbray. To achieve his goals, it’s likely he’ll look to use the transfer market to his advantage, with Bournemouth’s David Brooks emerging as a potential target.
West Brom plot loan move for David Brooks
West Brom are believed to be interested in a loan move for 35-time Wales international David Brooks.
Albion are expected to lose star winger Tom Fellow to long-term admirers Everton this summer, leaving a huge creative void in the team after the winger’s four goals and 14 assists at Championship level last term.
Our sister outlet, the Express & Star understands that West Brom are one of the top contenders to sign Brooks from the Vitality Stadium this summer after the Cherries made it clear to sides in the Championship that the winger is available to move out on loan after a lack of starts last season.
The former Sheffield United winger scored two goals in 29 league appearances for Andoni Iraola’s side last season but was restricted to just nine starts, with his over 29 appearances coming from the bench.He struggled for game time amid the form of Antoine Semenyo and isn’t likely to be regular next season for the Cherries as they aim to qualify for Europe for the first time in their history.
Why signing David Brooks could prove a shrewd piece of business for the Baggies
West Brom were the 11th highest scorers in the Championship with 57 goals in 46 matches throughout last season. They scored less goals than any team inside the top six and were hugely reliant on the creativity of Tom Fellows, who is expected to depart this summer.Brooks has proven throughout his career that he can be a source of creativity and goals which could aid West Brom in their promotion push next term.
The Wales international burst onto the scene at Sheffield United in the 2017/18 season after a brief loan spell at Halifax Town and earned himself an £11.5m move to Bournemouth at the age of 20.
At the time, Eddie Howe said: “David is a player we have been looking at for a long time. He is technically very good, has huge potential and will fit our philosophy in terms of how we want to play.We’ve seen enough to suggest he is a player who could be outstanding at this level in the future if he develops in the right way and is willing to learn and improve.”
Brooks enjoyed his best season to date with seven goals and five assists in his debut top-flight season but has since had to overcome a number of battles both in terms of injury and health after being diagnosed with cancer in October 2021.
He was given the all-clear to play a year later and formed part of the Cherries team which won promotion in 2021/22 before winning promotion again during a loan spell at Southampton in 2023/24.
Brooks is renowned for his excellent speed, agility, ball control and quality in the final third which could prove invaluable if he’s signed. This was epitomised in the FA Cup last season against the Baggies when he made two assists against them in a 5-1 Cherries win.
Elsewhere, West Brom have also been linked with Tottenham youngster Jamie Donley, who impressed on loan at Leyton Orient, and winger Mikey Moore. Both players have been coached by Mason in the past in North London.
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