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West Bromwich Albion are set for a busy transfer window under Tony Mowbray.
West Brom are on track to secure Championship play-off qualification for a second successive season.
The Baggies are in a congested battle for the top six alongside the likes of Coventry City, Bristol City, Middlesbrough and Blackburn Rovers but are among the favourites to feature in the play-offs.
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Tony Mowbray has done a decent job to maintain West Brom’s resilience following his arrival as Carlos Corberan’s successor. Albion have lost just twice under Mowbray - against Middlesbrough and Blackburn - to take the total total of defeats to only seven in 38 matches.
The end goal isn’t just to keep finishing in the top six, though, with an ambition to return to the Premier League above all else. As much as that’s still possible this term, it’s going to be a huge challenge to beat two of the current top four, as well as another, more nearby contender.
If West Brom don’t get the job done this campaign, achieving promotion via the automatic spots next season would be a great aim. That probably won’t be possible with the current crop, however, with new signings required to take the Baggies to the next level.
But who exactly could come through the doors at The Hawthorns? As Albion fans wait with eager anticipation, we loaded up the latest edition of Football Manager to run a simulation, predicting every player the club would sign before the end of the 2025 summer window.
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Which players did Football Manager predict West Brom would sign?
They say time travel doesn’t exist but in the alternate universe of Football Manager we were able to jump into the franchise’s very own version of Doctor Who’s Tardis, advancing through to August 30, 2025 – the day after the summer transfer deadline.
In Football Manager’s simulation, Albion did make the play-offs but failed at the first hurdle, losing to Sheffield United who were finished third in the Championship. The Blades then went on to win the play-offs with a victory over Sunderland in the final at Wembley Stadium.
Determined to go one step better and achieve promotion to the Premier League at the end of the 2025/26 season instead, West Brom owner Shilen Patel was on the buzzer to clubs in the top flight to reinforce the squad with top-flight-standard players.
First to come in through the door was Wes Burns following his relegation from the Premier League with Ipswich Town. The winger joined on a free transfer despite extending his contract at Portman Road in 2024, agreeing with the Tractor Boys to depart to free up their wage bill. He joined to replace Grady Diangana, who decided to leave West Brom upon the expiry of his own contract.
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Another Premier League swoop saw West Brom bring in veteran striker Danny Ings - also on a free - from West Ham United. The former Aston Villa and Liverpool man wound down his contract at the London Stadium and opted for a move to The Hawthorns despite offers from Middlesbrough and Leeds United. Ings, three times an England international, has scored 72 goals in 240 Premier League matches throughout his career.
The next deal was a little more left-field as West Brom turned to fellow Championship side Norwich City to acquire the services of experienced midfielder Kenny McClean. The 33-year-old, capable of playing in pretty much any midfield role, cost a steep £2.8 million.
Who did West Brom recruit on Deadline Day?
Football Manager predicts West Brom to sign Bournemouth's David Brooks and West Ham's Danny Ings.Football Manager predicts West Brom to sign Bournemouth's David Brooks and West Ham's Danny Ings.
Football Manager predicts West Brom to sign Bournemouth's David Brooks and West Ham's Danny Ings. | Getty Images
Mowbray opted for a period of calm to allow his new Albion recruits to get to know one another and their new teammates ahead of the new season. Results were mixed in August with a 2-0 win at Blackburn to kick things off but defeats to the newly-relegated Ipswich and Leicester City spoiling a perfect start.
Then came Deadline Day and the Baggies well and truly saved the best to last, splashing the cash with two significant transfers.
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First up, Sebastian Haller, a Champions League-proven target man striker, was secured as a marquee addition from Borussia Dortmund. Costing £6.5 million, the Ivorian - on loan at FC Utrecht in real life - decided on a return to England four years on from his West Ham United departure. Haller has scored 168 goals in 413 career appearances in real life.
To round things off was the most significant deal of the entire window as West Brom completed an audacious swoop for AFC Bournemouth’s David Brooks. Just as the Sky Sports presenters were preparing to undo their top buttons and take off their yellow ties, Albion made an eleventh-hour dash to sign the man they feel will secure promotion to the big time.
Brooks may not be a regular starter for Bournemouth in real life but he’s shown signs of immense quality over the last couple seasons following a full recovery from Stage 2 Hodgkin lymphoma. The 27-year-old Wales international has racked up 11 goals and six assists in 80 Premier League appearances throughout his career.
Joining as one of West Brom’s new star players, Brooks rounded off a stunning transfer window with a bill of £16.3 million.