Nearly 20 years on from his first promotion success at the Hawthorns, Tony Mowbray will be desperate to make it two on his West Bromwich Albion CV come the end of the long and gruelling campaign.
It will be a tough and intense battle to remain in the Championship playoff spots, but the cool head did guide Sunderland into the top six picture during the 2022/23 season, away from winning the league at the Baggies way back in 2008.
If a return to the top flight isn’t sealed, a number of key personnel could up and leave in major moves when the transfer window swings back open, with a whole host of transfer values in the West Midlands soaring.
Potential high profile West Brom sales
Although West Brom have had to deal with some upheaval this season in Carlos Corberan departing the club, it hasn’t really negatively impacted the performances of some of their top individuals.
Of course, Mowbray’s arrival onto the scene did come around the same time Josh Maja was confirmed to be out for the foreseeable, having fired home 12 electric Championship goals when completely free of his injury demons.
This would end up being one of Maja’s final goals in league action before an untimely spell on the treatment room, with the ex-Sunderland man even touted to be on the move at one stage during the winter window for a fee around the £15m mark.
There will be a temptation to cash in if promotion isn’t reached, especially if rumoured parties such as Chelsea come back in, with Premier League interest also heating up for the services of Tom Fellows down the right wing.
The homegrown prodigy has a stunning 11 assists in the league so far this season, with rumours circulating that Everton were keen during the most recent window as a £20m price tag is also now planted above his head.
Whilst both of these amounts wouldn’t be sniffed at by the promotion hopefuls, there is a certain ex-loanee worth even more than both the named £15m and £20m price tags, who is a scintillating watch at the peak of his powers in the top-flight.
The "special" loanee now worth more than Maja & Fellows
West Brom has been a great environment for loan stars to grow in recent years, with immediate names coming to mind including Romelu Lukaku, Conor Gallagher and Tosin Adarabioyo at the early stages of their development.
But, it could be slightly forgotten about now that Harvey Barnes called the Hawthorns his home temporarily during the 2018/19 campaign, which would result in Barnes finally getting more action at then parent side Leicester City.
Twisting and turning Championship defences for fun, as can be seen watching his gleaming highlights reel above, the Burnley-born winger would round off his time in the West Midlands with a sizeable nine goals and eight assists next to his name.
From that point on, the one-time England senior international would begin to make waves at Leicester, with his terrific form over a number of seasons at the King Power Stadium seeing him win a major £38m switch to Newcastle United.
Season
Games played
Goals scored
Assists
24/25
27
5
1
23/24
23
5
3
22/23
40
13
3
21/22
48
11
13
20/21
35
13
4
19/20
42
7
9
Looking at the table above, there’s plenty on show to validate why the Magpies splashed out £38m, with football statistician Statman Dave even once heralding Barnes as “special” for his consistent excellence campaign by campaign.
He has had to battle with injury issues at St James’ Park limiting his game-time, but his transfer value still stands at the £28m mark, as per Transfermarkt.
Therefore, whilst Maja and Fellows could win Mowbray big bucks, Barnes is worth far more than the duo, as West Brom aim to face off against their former loan star next season if promotion becomes a reality.
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