Exclusive West Brom forward deal terminated early as official announcement made.

West Brom have ended Reyes Cleary’s season-long loan with Walsall. On January 7, the Baggies announced via their website that the 20-year-old had returned from his loan spell with the League Two side. He moved to Walsall on a one-year contract in August, but has returned to the Hawthorns earlier than anticipated.

West Brom to offload Reyes Cleary after Walsall struggles

In the summer, the Championship club loaned Cleary out to Walsall to give him consistent playing time. However, the right-footed striker played only 86 minutes of League Two football in the first half of the season, scoring once in a 3-0 EFL Trophy victory over Shrewsbury on December 11. While West Brom did not explain why Cleary returned early, it is clear that they were unhappy with his progress with the Saddlers. It remains to be seen what the future holds for The Hawthorns’ centre forward. It is difficult to envision him clawing his way into the first-team plans at Albion after failed to earn regular playing time twice divisions below.

It is not beyond the realms of possibility that West Brom look to sell Cleary during the ongoing January transfer window.

Such a transfer would give him a clean slate elsewhere and opportunity to show what he is capable of at first-team level.

If that does not come to fruition, Albion will likely seek another loan move for the youngster.

Either way, it is hard to see Cleary remain at The Hawthorns beyond January.

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