West Brom In Talks For £1.1k-p/w Ace To Soften O’Shea Blow

West Bromwich Albion’s focus heading into the summer time switch window was to dump gamers earlier than even fascinated about recruiting as they looked to balance the books.

Nonetheless, after getting loads of deadweight out of The Hawthorns within the early phases of the summer time, and bringing in £7m through the sale of Dara O’Shea to Burnley, the Championship outfit can maybe now begin to usher in a few of Carlos Corberan’s targets.

Who’s West Brom goal Josh Key?

In keeping with Soccer Insider reporter Pete O’Rourke, West Brom are in talks to signal versatile star Josh Key from League One aspect Exeter Metropolis.

Key’s out of contract with Exeter and is subsequently out there on a free switch, making him a really perfect choice for Albion as they give the impression of being to strengthen in a number of positions.

Given his performances within the third tier, plus his contract state of affairs, Key’s understandably attracting loads of curiosity. It’s claimed that Championship pair Plymouth Argyle and Swansea Metropolis are additionally in for the 23-year-old, with the latter already making a compensation payment offer to Exeter.

The place would Josh Key slot in at West Brom?

Whoever wins the race for Key will probably be signing an especially versatile participant. The teenager began his profession at proper wing-back and featured there seven instances final season, as per WhoScored, however he’s additionally snug taking part in at centre-back (10 appearances), the place a place has opened up at West Brom.

Key’s versatility doesn’t cease there, although, as he was additionally utilized in extra superior positions below Gary Caldwell final season, that includes on each the correct and left wings, in addition to in central attacking midfield and whilst a striker.

“He’s a tremendous soccer participant who can play in plenty of positions and it’s about how we utilise him in numerous video games,” Caldwell said in December.

Caldwell additionally praised Key’s capability to get previous an opponent, which is mirrored in the truth that no Metropolis participant attempted more dribbles (1.6) per game final season.

Key in the end began out as a defender, and it might be that it’s on the again he finds himself ought to he be a part of Albion, with Corberan feeling the necessity to overcome the exit of O’Shea. The Torquay native is simply as sturdy in that aspect of the sport, highlighted by his 1.6 tackles per game – solely Alex Hartridge (1.8), who performed solely at centre-back final season, may higher than amongst Exeter regulars.

Ought to he arrive, it’s clear that Key wouldn’t precisely be a like-for-like alternative for O’Shea. Nonetheless, the previous Tiverton City loanee greater than holds his personal in sure areas when in comparison with the now-Burnley man.

For instance, O’Shea averaged 1.1 tackles per game final season, whereas Key averaged 0.5 dribbles to the Irishman’s 0.2. The latter did come out on high by way of interceptions (1.8 v 0.7), however that may partly be defined by Key taking part in out broad and additional up the sphere final season.

The pair are additionally totally different in stature, with Key – on a reported weekly wage of £1.1k per week throughout his time at Exeter – measuring in at 5 foot 10 and O’Shea at 6 foot 1.

Whether or not it’s as a centre-back, right-back, on the wing or attacking midfield, it’d simply be that Joshua holds the important thing to unlocking a promotion-winning group below Corberan.