West Bromwich Albion could be set to lose out on the signing of free agent Oliver Norwood this summer as the midfielder has been on trial with a League One outfit.
It has been a difficult transfer window so far for the Baggies. Central defender Torbjorn Heggem is the only player that has been brought to The Hawthorns for a transfer fee this summer after West Brom paid £500,000 to Allsvenskan side Brommapojkarna for the Swede. However, the rest of the acquisitions were all signed as free transfers.
Striker Devante Cole was signed following his release from League One club Barnsley, while Ousmane Diakite and goalkeeper Josh Griffiths followed suit. Furthermore, former Middlesbrough star Paddy McNair signed on a short-term loan deal which will expire at the turn of the new year.
Meanwhile, there have been far more departures than arrivals, most notably Brandon Thomas-Asante who recently completed his £3 million move to promotion rivals Coventry City and defensive midfielder Okay Yokuslu who returned to Turkey. Additionally, fullback Conor Townsend joined newly-promoted Premier League side Ipswich Town and starting centre-back Cedric Kipre joined French club Stade de Reims.
Now, Sky Sports News have revealed that West Bromwich Albion have been placed under an EFL-imposed business plan after the organisation’s concerns that the West Midlands outfit will breach the league’s financial rules. It is believed that this will massively hamper the club’s transfer plans this summer.
BREAKING: West Bromwich Albion have been placed under an EFL-imposed business plan which will limit their transfer activity in this window, Sky Sports News can reveal, amid concerns they are on course to breach the League’s financial rules. 🚨 pic.twitter.com/bfAJvk9TSp
— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) August 3, 2024
Things seem to be going from bad to worse for Carlos Corberan as the Spanish is now set to miss out on one of his transfer targets. Journalist Michael Graham reported at the beginning of July that West Brom were weighing up a move for experienced midfielder Norwood after his contract expired with Sheffield United following the club’s relegation from the top-flight. Graham stated that fellow Championship sides Sunderland and Watford were also lining up for the 33-year-old’s signature.
However, the Northern Ireland international has been on trial with League One club Stockport County and featured for the Hatters during a 1-0 defeat to Blackburn Rovers in a pre-season friendly on Friday night. This trial could turn into a permanent move.
Writer’s View
Losing Norwood is not the end of the world for West Bromwich Albion. However, he would have been a solid acquisition for the club given he would be coming in as a free agent, having previously earned four promotions to the Premier League with Brighton and Hove Albion, Fulham and Sheffield United.
Corberan has lost a lot of experience in his squad following the departures of Yokuslu, Matt Phillips, Townsend, Martin Kelly, Yann M’Vila, Nathaniel Chalobah and Erik Pieters, among others. Norwood would have alleviated these losses slightly but he now looks to be joining Stockport ahead of the 2024/25 campaign.
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