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West Bromwich Albion have started the season just as they had finished the last, in excellent form, as James Morrison aims to guide his former club into the Championship play-off places this campaign.
The 2025/26 season was a big near miss for West Brom, who only just managed to narrowly avoid the drop into League One after a heroic escape led by former midfielder Morrison.
Neither Ryan Mason nor Eric Ramsay could get going at The Hawthorns, as Morrison has firmly stamped his authority on the Baggies since taking to the dugout, and has impressed with his work both on and off the pitch.
James Morrison oversaw a big final third overhaul at West Bromwich Albion in the summer
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At the end of last season, West Brom found themselves at a bit of a crossroads, but ultimately decided their route forward was to be spearheaded by Morrison, who firstly had a huge task of rebuilding the squad over the summer.
Each of Jed Wallace, Daryl Dike, Josh Maja, and Karlan Grant saw their contracts in the Black Country expire, whilst the experienced heads of Krystian Bielik and Alex Mowatt also left, leaving the Baggies with business to do.
With the final third down to the bare bones, the likes of Barnsley Stewart, Jimmy-Jay Morgan, Kareem Tunde, and Felix Horn Myhre were brought to the club on permanent deals to add some fresh blood and youthfulness to the ranks, which is looking to have already paid dividends.
However, their summer business didn’t all go according to plan, as offers for one or two options in the final third went kaput.
West Bromwich Albion were interested in Ipswich Town’s Kasey McAteer
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Morrison was busy working alongside his recruitment department over the summer, as alongside those aforementioned arrivals, both Southampton’s Cameron Archer and Ipswich Town’s Kasey McAteer were also in the Scot’s sights.
Archer would eventually move to France with Auxerre, reuniting with Will Still despite West Brom’s interest, whilst McAteer has remained in the Premier League with Ipswich, where the Irishman faces heavy competition for minutes in Gary O’Neil’s side.
The former Leicester City forward earned his first regular taste of first-team football out on loan with Forest Green Rovers before earning a £12 million move to Ipswich in the summer of 2025, and having missed out on his signature, has allowed a player who also earned their first taste of regular first-team football with Forest Green Rovers to emerge into the side.
Liam Gallagher, Championship badge, Paul McCartney
Liam Gallagher, Championship badge, Paul McCartney
Harry Whitwell has become a regular at West Bromwich Albion after the Baggies missed out on Kasey McAteer
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Harry Whitwell has progressed his way through the ranks at West Brom, with the 20-year-old having made his debut for the club back in the 2023/24 campaign, before heading out to fifth-tier Forest Green Rovers for the first half of last season, scoring just twice in 23 league games.
With just two appearances in the second half of last season, it appeared as though Whitwell had no immediate future with the Baggies, and would be sent out on loan again. However, with six starts in six Championship appearances so far this season, with a goal and an assist under his belt, the Englishman has emerged from nowhere to become a key player for his boyhood club.
Norwich City had emerged as potential suitors to the young Englishman, though the Canaries swooped for Sheffield United's Andre Brooks instead.
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Harry Whitwell's 2026/27 West Bromwich Albion Championship statistics as per FotMob (as of 07/10/2026)
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Predominantly used off the right flank so far this season, the 20-year-old is taking his opportunity in the first team and then some, as Morrison has been duly rewarded for putting his faith in the young forward, who looks at home in the Championship.
Had McAteer signed instead, Whitwell almost certainly wouldn’t have earned as much game time as he already has this season, and under a different head coach, may not have even got the chance to impress altogether.
Missing out on McAteer was viewed as a big blow at the time, but now, in hindsight, it may have been the best thing possible for those at The Hawthorns, who have a new young star on their hands.
James Morrison will love missing out on Ipswich Town’s Kasey McAteer after Harry Whitwell’s emergence
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Morrison, at the time, would have been frustrated to have missed out on McAteer, especially considering the Irishman has a plethora of competition at Portman Road at the moment.
However, this transfer miss may well be a blessing in disguise, as Whitwell has come from nowhere to become one of the hottest young prospects in the second tier.
The sky is the limit for Whitwell, who must be overjoyed at West Brom missing out on McAteer now.