West Bromwich Albion will be hoping for an unhitched January transfer window in order to maintain their ambitions of securing a top-six spot come the end of the 2024/25 Championship campaign.
It will be a critical window for the Baggies, who have recently fallen behind after an electrifying and unparalleled start to the season under Carlos Corberan.
West Brom won five of their first six matches, but they have only won once since September, when they collected all three points from Hull City last month. The Baggies’ 2-1 success at the MKM Stadium is their sole win in their previous nine games, though eight of those have been draws in an outstanding unbroken streak.
You get the impression that Carlos Corberan will need to bring a couple of new faces to the Hawthorns to keep West Brom pushing for the play-offs, but player retention may be the most important call of duty, and with that in mind, Football League World has looked at two transfer concerns that appear to be on the horizon.
Losing Josh Maja
According to a recent report from Spanish publication Super Deporte, LaLiga duo Celta Vigo and Real Sociedad are both interested in Josh Maja, who the Baggies are supposedly valued at €20 million (£16.7 million) as they attempt to ward off interest ahead of the next transfer window.
It’s unsurprising that the Baggies appear to be pricing out Maja’s suitors. The 25-year-old has been a revelation this season following a season marred by injuries the previous year, justifying West Brom’s decision to bring him back from Bordeaux and proving himself more than capable of being the club’s talisman all year.
Josh Maja’s stats for West Bromwich Albion in all competitions, courtesy FotMob, as of November 27
Season
Appearances
Goals
Assists
2023/24
12
1
0
2024/25
17
10
1
Maja began the season in spectacular manner, scoring a hat-trick in a 3-1 victory over QPR, but unlike some of his teammates, his form has remained consistent. At the time of writing, only Norwich City’s Borja Sainz has surpassed his tally of 10 league goals from just 17 games.
The former Sunderland frontman has been a standout this season, and his goals will have a significant impact on where his team finishes the season, therefore losing him must be avoided at all costs – even if their high asking price is reached.
Losing Tom Fellows
So often Maja’s partner in crime, the mutually-beneficial chemistry in which the duo have struck up this season has been something to behold at its best.
Impressively, all but one of Fellows’ six league assists so far this season have been for Maja, who has reaped all the rewards from the youngster’s direct and pinpoint crossing.
A traditional, old-school winger, Fellows’ directness, speed and willingness to cross from the byline have come up trumps for Albion for parts of this season, even though his form has been patchy in recent weeks. But, given his age, undoubted talent and promise and previous interest, they may still be sweating over his immediate future.
In the summer, Albion reportedly turned down proposals from newly promoted Premier League clubs Ipswich Town and Southampton for Fellows. There will naturally be concern about losing the 21-year-old, especially if he regains his best form between now and January.
Like Maja, they must fight with everything they have to keep the academy product if suitors come calling, and they will fancy their chances as well, but it will still be a problem.
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