West Bromwich Albion

Image source, Adam Fradgley - Getty Images

West Bromwich Albion sporting director Andrew Nestor says the club are in a much healthier position in terms of satisfying English football's profit and sustainability rules than they were prior to their change of ownership almost a year ago.

The former Bologna director and Tampa Bay Rowdies president was chief executive of Bilkul Football Group, Albion's owners, when he took on his Albion role in mid-August, two weeks before the close of the summer transfer window.

But he described Championship club Albion's PSR position when Bilkul took over in late February from Guochuan Lai as having been "perilous".

"We are continuing to strategically navigate this situation," he said, "whilst remaining competitive in the league and investing in the club's future through the decisions made in these last two transfer windows.

"The average age of the squad weighted for minutes played was the oldest in the Championship and the fifth-most expensive.

"We have since been assembling a cohesive squad built around a more offensive-minded style of play. We have reinvested in key players that were already here, as well as new impact acquisitions and several top players under 21. The average age has been reduced and we have created capacity to continue future investment.

"Our squad planning model is centred around creating a mix of peak-year performance players in the 23-25 and 26-29 age categories, and young developing U23 talents. This can enable the club to compete at the highest level, but also develop players and optimise trading opportunities.

"We believe the squad adjustments made in the past month help us tremendously as we seek to adopt a more attack-minded playing style, create a pipeline of top young talent, and simultaneously reinforce the squad.

"The overarching strategy for 2025-26 is in place and, behind the scenes, we have aligned and bolstered our scouting and data capabilities."

West Bromwich Albion will be looking to bounce back from their 2-1 defeat at bottom side Plymouth when they host fellow play-off chasers Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday (12:30 GMT).

The Baggies are sixth in the Championship but only above Middlesbrough in seventh on goal difference.

Meanwhile the Owls are only two points back in 10th place and could move into the top six with victory, even if only temporarily.

• West Brom have won three of their past four home league games against Sheffield Wednesday (D1), having been in winless in the previous seven (D4 L3).

• Sheffield Wednesday have won each of their past two league games against West Brom, last winning more consecutively between 1961 and 1963 (5).

• West Brom have lost just one of their past 15 home league games (W7 D7), and are unbeaten in 10 at the Hawthorns since a 1-0 loss to Middlesbrough in October.

• Sheffield Wednesday lost their first three away league games this season. However, since the start of October only Burnley (25) and Sheffield United (23) have earned more away points in the Championship than the Owls (20).

• Sheffield Wednesday's Michael Smith has scored in both of his past two league games, coming off the bench both times. He last scored in three consecutive league games within the same season in August/September 2021 while at Rotherham.

Image source, Rex Features

On Tuesday, we asked what you made of West Bromwich Albion's business in the transfer window.

Albion signed midfielder Tammer Bany from Danish Superliga side Randers for a fee in the region of £3.3m on deadline day following the signings of Spurs striker Will Lankshear on loan and midfielder Isaac Price from Belgian club Standard Liege.

Southampton's Adam Armstrong was reunited with Baggies boss Tony Mowbray on loan in the dying embers of deadline day.

Mowbray did see first-choice goalkeeper Alex Palmer move to Ipswich, with Albion recalling Josh Griffiths from loan at Bristol Rovers but Tom Fellows and Josh Maja remain with the club for at least the rest of the season.

Here are some of your responses:

James: Overall the end to the window has certainly got the juices flowing. Adam Armstrong seemingly has the ideal profile to head a Mowbray-inspired attack at the play off positions. Maja is proving a key miss, so Armstrong, along with some potentially exciting young blood in midfield has reignited fans' dreams of a tilt for the big time, something that had only recently seemed improbable this season.

Eddie: Sensible business overall - Josh Griffiths has been in top form at Bristol Rovers so hopefully he can do a decent job for us.

Michael: Good window. If anyone had to leave to fund the replacements then better it was someone with ample cover available than a Fellows or a Maja.

Lee: A fabulous window from the Baggies. No one could have expected four players in, including the much-needed forwards. Also great to see that we didn't lose too many. Could be a special end to the season.

Roger: Excellent business, we have the creative players but we need goalscorers, and Armstrong is proven. Hopefully the young Spurs and Danish players prove to be good assets and score goals. Very pleased.

Craig: Considering the financial aspects everyone is aware of, some very good business. Gutted to lose Palmer, but Griffiths is ready for that step up. Very happy with Armstrong, a goalscorer is just what we need.

Paul: Good business in the main, signed two young stars permanently, with two loan forwards to help us get promoted. Slightly sad regarding Alex Palmer leaving but I guess it balanced the books. Tony knows what he is doing.

Dave: As disappointed as I am to see Palmer leave, I think the owners have been sensible and pragmatic. Palmer only had 18 months left on his contract... and he would likely have left for free at the end of his current deal. That's sensible business by the owners who (unlike the previous owner) have the bigger 'club sustainability' picture at the front of their thinking. Patience Baggies, patience. Trust the owners and let's get behind the team, Griffiths is supposed to be a real talent who was getting fed up with the lack of opportunities; well, he's got his chance now.

Richard: Given our financial situation I think our January incomings and outgoings have been fantastic. Pure profit for Palmer and strengthened creativity and goals threat, which is much needed.

Martin: For the first time in years we have a strike force! We've gone from having no strikers (both out long-term injured) to having a wealth of them - especially once Maja and Dike return from injury.

Ian: Surprised at letting Palmer go but, saying that, Josh Griffiths was a good replacement and did well when Palmer was injured. The other signings seem good, solid, sensible ones.

Jeff: Excellent business, fair play to our chairman, he's slowly and surely turning the club around after a disastrous experience with the previous regime.

Steve Hermon
BBC WM commentator

Image source, BBC Sport

Image source, Rex Features

Albion fans were made to wait but it was absolutely worth it because they have managed to acquire one of the Championship's most prolific marksmen with the extremely late capture of Southampton striker Adam Armstrong.

The 27-year-old has scored 80 career goals in the second tier, including 24 last season for the Saints, who beat the Baggies in the play-offs on their way to securing promotion to the Premier League.

In his early interviews since being appointed for a second spell last month, head coach Tony Mowbray has distanced himself from the work of the club's recruitment team – led by sporting director Andrew Nestor – but there's no doubt that the 61-year-old's influence has led to this deal being completed.

Mowbray first worked with Armstrong at Coventry when the then-teenager was on loan from boyhood club Newcastle.

But it was when they were reunited at Blackburn in 2018 that Armstrong found his shooting boots, going on to bag 44 goals in 86 appearances in back-to-back campaigns before moving to the south coast in 2021.

As for the other activity, the sale of first-choice keeper Alex Palmer to Ipswich raised eyebrows but with just 18 months left on his contract and hot prospect Josh Griffiths waiting in the wings, it made business sense for the club to cash in on an academy product, which means pure profit.

The £5m deal will have also helped fund the purchase of Danish forward Tammer Bany. The 21-year-old is definitely the product of the Bilkul recruitment model.

Nestor and director of football operations Ian Pearce will have done their research over some time on a player with potential whose quality and value will hopefully increase over time, which is the same profile as another recent arrival, Northern Ireland international midfielder Isaac Price.

Cancelling Serbian midfielder Uros Racic's unsuccessful loan also allowed the signing of Bany to happen as it opened up a spot for another player from abroad, while young defender Caleb Taylor returned to League One Wycombe on loan to get some vital minutes under his belt, as the club are confident that they have enough cover in that position.

Overall, it's been a very productive window, with 19-year-old Spurs striker Will Lankshear also recruited on loan, but it's the signing of the Saint that is the icing on the cake.

It could truly prove to be a season-changing signing, as Mowbray looks to maintain the Baggies' place in the play-offs. Hopefully they can experience a memorable day at Wembley in May, just like Armstrong did with his parent club only nine months ago.

Image source, Rex Features

It's time to talk about West Bromwich Albion's transfer business...

It was always likely to be a dramatic finish to the window given Carlos Corberan's Christmas departure for Valencia, and Albion signed midfielder Tammer Bany from Danish Superliga side Randers FC for a fee in the region of £3.3m on deadline day.

Bany, 21, who plays as an attacking midfielder in the number 10 role but can also operate as a forward, was the Baggies' third signing in the January window following Spurs striker Will Lankshear on loan and midfielder Isaac Price from Belgian club Standard Liege, for an undisclosed fee.

A fourth new arrival has materialised since the window shut as Southampton's Adam Armstrong was reunited with Baggies boss Tony Mowbray.

The 27-year-old striker, who has 125 career goals to his name, first played for Mowbray in the 2015-16 season on loan from Newcastle United, when he was Coventry City manager. Armstrong then spent three and a half more seasons under Mowbray at Blackburn Rovers before leaving in 2021 for Saints.

Mowbray did see first-choice goalkeeper Alex Palmer move to Ipswich Town, where he will rejoin former Albion team-mate Conor Townsend, with Albion recalling Josh Griffiths from loan at Bristol Rovers.

We want you to tell us what you think about the Baggies' transfer dealings...

Let us know your thoughts here.

Image source, Rex Features

West Bromwich Albion boss Tony Mowbray was dumbfounded by a sense of deja vu after seeing his side beaten 2-1 at Home Park by two late match-turning Ryan Hardie goals for Plymouth Argyle.

After taking the lead on 71 minutes, Albion were stunned three minutes later by a disputed penalty for handball - then Hardie added a second two minutes from the end with another goal that must have been very close to being chalked off too - this time for offside.

"We lost 2-1 here when I was with Sunderland - and it turned out to be one of those days again," said Mowbray.

"It was a really, really controversial decision. It was never a penalty kick, from someone who played the game for 20 years and has managed for 20 years.

"The referee's decision to give a pen I cannot understand. Even if it does hit his hand, he couldn't do anything about it. The boy is two yards away and smashes it straight at him. Is there a rule that says you have to put your hand behind your back now? But you have to take these types of decisions in your stride.

"Refs don't have to come out and talk to people after games. No doubt he would defend the decision and say it was right but I would find it difficult to understand how he would condone it.

"We found a way to lose a game we should never have lost. It is quite remarkable really. It's amazing we lost that game. We had such control. They didn't threaten that much and I couldn't see how they were going to score.

"I'm not sure how we lost that to be honest. Probably not enough shots? They played five across the back and they played a lot deeper than they normally do. We found it difficult to break them down. We have to put the ball in the back of the net when we're on top."

Tottenham will allow 19-year-old forward Will Lankshear to leave on loan before Monday's transfer deadline, with Burnley, Middlesbrough, West Brom, Cardiff and Luton keen on the England Under-20 international. (Football.London), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Friday's full gossip column.

Bottom side Plymouth Argyle welcome West Bromwich Albion to Home Park on Saturday lunchtime looking for a first win in 16 Championship games.

The Pilgrims are seven points adrift from safety, while the fifth-placed Baggies have lost just one of their past six (W2 D3) games and are looking to strengthen their play-off bid.

• Plymouth Argyle have failed to win any of their past nine league games against West Bromwich Albion (D2 L7), failing to score in each of their past four against the Baggies.

• After winning just one of their first 13 away league games against Plymouth Argyle (D5 L7), West Bromwich Albion have since won each of their past three such matches since November 2007.

• Plymouth are winless across their past 15 league games since early November (D7 L8), conceding 2.5 goals per outing across that period. The Pilgrims have never endured a longer run without victory across their EFL history.

• West Brom have lost just three of their past 21 league games (W5 D13), though all three defeats have come away from home during that time.

• Plymouth have conceded the most goals in the Championship this season (62), while they've also shipped the most goals from open play (45) and from corners (10) of any side in the division.

Image source, Getty Images

West Bromwich Albion midfielder Alex Mowatt says Baggies fans have reason to feel excited about the attacking football they are going to witness following the return of Tony Mowbray as boss.

After scoring just twice in their first seven home games this season, Albion have now netted 17 in their last seven.

Eight have come in the two home matches since Carlos Corberan's departure for Spain was announced late on Christmas Eve - three under the Chris Brunt-led caretaker team against Preston and now five more in Mowbray's first home game back in charge.

Speaking after the 5-1 win over Portsmouth, Mowatt told BBC Radio WM: "Tony wants us to play it forward quicker and create more chaos at the back for the other team. Get more shots off and get them defending their goal.

"We played so long in the way of Carlos, it's about changing now and adapting.

"Maybe I might touch the ball less but we'll get more chances. And hopefully I might get a few more goals. There's a bit more freedom to move into different positions."

Mowatt scored twice in the 3-0 win at Pompey when Albion were top of the league in September, and he again got the ball rolling on Saturday with the first goal on 25 minutes - the first of four in less than a quarter of an hour.

Grady Diangana netted two of them, either side of one for Jed Wallace, his long awaited first of the season. And the scoring was done by the 56th minute after John Swift also bagged his first of the campaign

"That's what the fans pay their money for," said Mowatt. "They want to see us score goals."

Having climbed back up to fifth in the Championship, Mowbray's men now have the chance to build on that.

They head for bottom club Plymouth Argyle on Saturday before two home games in five days against Sheffield Wednesday and Blackburn Rovers.

West Bromwich Albion want to sign £4.2m-rated striker Willem Geubbels from Swiss Super League club FC St Gallen (FootMercato), external

Want more transfer news and rumours from the EFL? Read Monday's gossip column here.

Image source, Rex Features

West Bromwich Albion boss Tony Mowbray spoke to BBC Radio WM after his side convincingly beat relegation threatened Portsmouth 5-1 to move up to fifth in the table.

"The first 20 minutes we were under the cosh and were caught out a bit, they pressed really high and really well.

"When we did get the first goal it unleashed us and probably put some demons in their minds - our two wide players were so good today.

"I have to inspire my team and I don't have an ego about my tactics - I have an understanding that if I give these talented players a licence and space to express themselves then we can win a lot of football matches."