Why completing this £6m signing could be a good start to life in the Championship for West Brom

According to a report by the Birmingham Live, West Bromwich Albion are eyeing a £6m deal to sign Brentford midfielder Ryan Woods this summer. The 24-year-old played an instrumental role for the Championship outfit last season and it comes as no surprise that West Brom boss Darren Moore is pursuing a move for Woods.

West Brom suffered relegation from the Premier League last term and the Baggies have a pivotal season ahead of them. Playing in the Championship won’t be easy but West Brom must strive to return to the top-flight at the first opportunity.

And in their quest to do so, the Brentford midfielder could prove to be vastly resourceful. He started 35 games in the Championship last season, scoring a solitary goal and providing 3 assists.

As is the case with most players in his position, Woods’ performances on the field speak louder than his stats. A defensive midfielder by trade, Woods is excellent with his passes. He is adept at shielding the defence but at the same time, he can support the attack.

His influence was apparent for Brentford last season. They narrowly missed out securing a playoff spot but that does not undermine the brilliance displayed by Woods. In fact, he was easily one of the best performers in the recently concluded Championship campaign.

For the longest time, the Baggies have lacked an effective link between the defence and the attack. With Moore in charge, there will be a lot of changes at the Hawthorns, and the Baggies should look to sign Woods to bolster their squad.

It remains to be seen if Jake Livermore remains at West Brom but regardless of whether he stays or leaves, a player of Woods’ calibre would go a long way in making the Baggies solid in the middle of the park.

Also, a fee of £6m sounds like a bargain, given the inflated nature of the modern-day transfer market. West Brom must definitely make a move for Woods, and at 24 years of age, he does have a good amount of experience at hand.

And considering the fact that West Brom will be gunning for promotion next season, Woods could benefit greatly from moving to the Hawthorns. And provided they achieve success, the player will receive the golden opportunity of playing in the Premier League.