STOKE ON TRENT, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 24: Regan Slater of Hull City celebrates after scoring the team's third goal during the Sky Bet Championship match between Stoke City and Hull City at Bet365 Stadium on September 24, 2023 in Stoke on Trent, England. (Photo by Charlotte Tattersall/Getty Images)
West Brom: Devante Cole “flop” claims emerge after Carlos Corberan swoop.
The arrival of Devante Cole at West Bromwich Albion amid Brandon Thomas-Asante’s transfer to Coventry City has been received with skepticism by the Baggies faithful.
The 29-year-old frontman surfaced as Carlos Corberan’s fourth recruit of the summer transfer window in the wake of the departure of Thomas-Asante, who finished as West Brom’s top scorer in each of his two seasons after joining from Salford City.
Meanwhile, Cole scored 17 times for Barnsley in League One last season but moved on this summer following the expiration of his deal. Cole has been a prolific goalscorer in the third-tier of English football, although there are significant doubts about whether he’ll be able to translate that form to the Championship.
What next in the transfer window for West Brom after a busy week of exits?
Albion head into their pre-season double header this weekend with a smaller squad than when the week started.
It has been a busy 72 hours at The Hawthorns, with three key players departing as the summer re-shape remains in full swing at The Hawthorns.
Okay Yokuslu, whose exit has long been on the cards, left to join Trabzonspor for £1.5m, while Conor Townsend has joined Ipswich Town in a deal worth £750,000.
And on Thursday, striker Brandon Thomas-Asante completed a move to Coventry City, for a fee in the region of £2m to £3m.
There has been one incoming this week, with striker Devnate Cole becoming Albion’s fifth summer signing.
So where does that leave Albion with just over a week to go until the Championship campaign kicks into action?
In terms of senior players, Carlos Corberan currently has a squad of 21 players at his disposal, however three of those are goalkeepers and one is young forward Mo Faal.
There is still much work to be done in the transfer window and it remains to be seen how many new faces will come through the door at The Hawthorns before a ball is kicked at QPR next Saturday.
Following a busy week of departures, Jonny Drury predicts where Albion could strengthen and how many new faces they need.
Goalkeepers
This is a department that remains strong for Albion and needs no further recruitment.
Alex Palmer will start the campaign as number one, with Joe Wildsmith as number two following Griffiths’ loan move to Bristol Rovers. And youngster Ted Cann will be Albion’s third choice keeper.
Defenders
In terms of central defenders, you could argue Albion are pretty much sorted in that department.
