West Brom and Birmingham City, rivals in the West Midlands, are expected to engage in an exciting transfer battle this summer.
With former Tottenham Hotspur coaches Chris Davies and Ryan Mason hoping to establish themselves in the second division, both teams will be trying to build promotion-contending teams under young management.
With winger Mikey Moore anticipated to leave on loan to a Championship team this summer, the two are also hoping to leverage their Spurs ties to acquire prospects.
It should come as no surprise that Blues and Albion have been linked to making an aggressive move for the talented 17-year-old. At this level, it would be considered a true coup to get a kid who is rising in the English league.
Given the financial differential between the two clubs, Birmingham City undoubtedly has a stronger pull than West Brom at the moment, and the Baggies may have to acknowledge that they are second in the fight for his signature.
If the Black Country team is unable to sign Moore, they will need to explore for new targets as they prepare to assault the 2025-26 season.
With this in mind, FLW has identified three alternative wide players that Albion might pursue if Moore does not join up at The Hawthorns.
Tyrys Dolan
Dolan, a forward who has been steadily improving, had 13 goal involvements last season, which was a respectable result for the forward and undoubtedly something that may be improved upon going forward.
Dolan, who can play on either wing and in the starting lineup, will aim to continue to score goals on a regular basis, but after making more than 200 appearances at Ewood Park, he might be open to a new challenge.
It’s unclear if Blackburn would part with such a valuable asset to a rival for promotion, but Dolan undoubtedly has the Championship experience needed to lead the West Brom team to victory in the event that a deal for Mikey Moore doesn’t work out.
David Brooks
A move for David Brooks of Bournemouth would be something to consider if West Brom wants to demonstrate ambition during the summer transfer window.
At Vitality Stadium, the Welshman is still at the bottom of the hierarchy as players like Ryan Christie, Dango Ouattara, Antoine Semenyo, James Tavernier, and Justin Kluivert compete for starting positions.
In 901 minutes of play, Brooks recorded five assists and two goals, helping Southampton return to the Premier League two seasons ago.
Albion would benefit greatly from the 27-year-old’s versatility, as he can play on the wing as well as in a central attacking midfield role, and this signing might kill two birds with one stone as the Baggies look to add players in both areas.
Brooks’ excellent close ball control and keen eye for a pass make him a strong candidate to prosper in the blue and white stripes, and a loan transfer for Mikey Moore would be appealing.
Cian Ashford
Rounding off the list is youthful Cardiff City wideman Cian Ashford, who made his second-tier debut at the end of the Bluebirds’ relegation season.
The young Welshman is another figure with a great deal of variety. He can play on either foot or wing, and his ball-carrying ability helped Cardiff tremendously.
Ashford can also take on opposing full-backs with his quickness, directness, and risk-taking, causing fans to jump out of their seats due to the excitement he creates on the ball.
The 20-year-old has the potential to develop into a dangerous Championship asset if given another chance next season, and Ryan Mason might be the guy to get the most out of him if a move for Mikey Moore fails.
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