Opinion: Why West Brom should opt against a transfer move for 31-year-old

Championship side West Bromwich Albion are interested in a potential summer swoop for Newcastle United shot-stopper Karl Darlow, according to journalist Alan Nixon’s Patreon report over the weekend.

The 31-year-old has only made eight league appearances for the Magpies this term, finding himself behind Martin Dubravka in the pecking order and it’s currently unclear whether the club will invest in this area during the summer window.

With plenty of funds likely to be at his disposal though following the club’s takeover last year, Eddie Howe may move to provide Dubravka with more competition, potentially making 31-year-old Darlow available for a loan elsewhere.

Along with Middlesbrough and Nottingham Forest, the Baggies are also thought to be keen on the Englishman who would become the club’s established third option if he was to make a temporary move to the West Midlands.

Signing a player of this calibre in the second tier certainly isn’t something to be sniffed at – but you feel Steve Bruce already made his bed when he tied David Button and Alex Palmer down to new deals earlier this month – two options that should be reliable enough at Albion’s current level.

Considering Button spent much of the season on the bench at The Hawthorns, it was perhaps a surprise that they decided to keep both him and Palmer at the club and some would argue that they should have recruited a bigger name like Darlow to come in.

However, having two instead of three senior shot-stoppers available may go a long way in reducing West Brom’s wage bill and considering they have some talented youngsters including Ted Cann and Josh Griffiths at their disposal, it would seem like a waste to strengthen this department further even if one of them heads out