Former West Brom flop linked with surprise return to EFL with Championship rival.

A former West Brom manager could be set to return to the Championship after nearly a year out. Valerien Ismael struggled at West Brom, playing only 31 games before being let go. He went on to have brief spells with Beskitas and Watford, but has been out of work since being fired by Vicarage Road last season. However, he could be making a surprise return. Gary O’Neil, the former Wolves manager, was widely associated with the vacant managerial role at Blackburn Rovers after John Eustace left to join struggling Derby County. However, according to rumours, O’Neil is not in the race, while the former Baggies boss is.

According to sources from Wednesday, Ismael, former Middlesbrough and Birmingham City manager Aitor Karanka, and Pep Lijnders, Jurgen Klopp’s assistant manager at Liverpool, are all scheduled to be interviewed. If Ismael gets the position, it will be his fourth in the Championship. He rose to prominence in England with Barnsley, as he led them to the playoffs. After previous chief executive Xu Ke picked Ismael for the post, Albion handed him a large £2 million compensation package. And he got off to a flying start at West Brom, going unbeaten in his first 10 games. However, they went on to win only six of his following 19 games, and Ismael was axed with Albion still in the play-off places.

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