West Brom's transfer window plan changes after Daryl Dike injury blow

Valerien Ismael has confirmed that West Brom will look into a striker contingency plan between now and next Monday’s transfer deadline day after the devastating injury news involving January arrival Daryl Dike.

The 21-year-old was Ismael’s first choice target as the club sought to recruit a centre forward for the second half of this season and beyond, and in the months of November and December they were able to successfully negotiate a deal with Orlando City for his services.

Dike made his debut from the bench in the defeat to QPR a week ago, and was handed his first start at The Hawthorns against Peterborough on Saturday, but he was forced off after half time and the scan results returned early this week confirmed Ismael’s own fears.

They’ll have to make do without him for at least the next two months. Dike could be back in time for the trip to Birmingham City at the beginning of April, but until then Albion are having to assess their options prior to the closure of the window.

“It’s clear that we needed to assess the again the situation and see what we can get on market,” Ismael reasoned. “We got our target number one, we spent the money on target number one.

“We need to have someone who can help us straight away and for a short time. It’s a balance to find someone who is available and who it makes sense to do.

“We have a couple of days now to make the right decision. First there is a game on Wednesday, but it’s clear that after the game we need to work behind the scenes and put every solution on the table.”

Dike cost Albion £7m, so does Ismael have confidence that there is a budget of sorts available to his recruitment team now that they are being forced back into the market to cover off a position they’ve