West Bromwich Albion won’t linger in the sadness of Matt Phillips’ departure for too long, thanks to their summer acquisition.
West Bromwich Albion wasted no time after their exit from the Championship play-off semi-final, announcing their retained list just five days after the disappointing 3-1 second-leg defeat to the Saints. In the process, they let go of seven senior players.
Among those let go, the departure of Matt Phillips would have been particularly painful. The 33-year-old veteran had amassed 255 appearances for the Baggies over eight memorable seasons. This news came after a season marked by injuries for Phillips in 2023/24.
Despite being an aging attacker, Phillips managed 26 appearances when fit for Carlos Corberan’s team, making six goal contributions along the way. However, he will soon become a free agent at the end of this month.
This situation could prompt West Brom to seek multiple wingers to address gaps on the flanks at the Hawthorns. Hence, the nearly-promoted team is eyeing this potential signing to lessen the impact of Phillips’ departure without a transfer fee.
West Brom remains actively pursuing a “fantastic” forward in the form of Josh Murphy, who recently concluded an impressive season with Oxford United. Described as “fantastic” by football pundit Carlton Palmer, Murphy now faces a significant decision regarding his contract status at the Kassam Stadium, which remains unresolved.
According to The Sun’s report in April, several clubs including West Bromwich Albion, Southampton, and Queens Park Rangers are vying for the services of the dynamic winger. Murphy’s contribution of ten goals from 38 games played a pivotal role in Oxford United’s promotion campaign.
Two of Murphy’s ten goals came during Oxford United’s triumphant play-off final against Bolton Wanderers at Wembley. His skillful play down the left wing proved too much for Bolton as Oxford secured a 2-0 victory, clinching a surprising promotion under Des Buckingham’s leadership.
While Oxford remains hopeful that Murphy, their former Norwich City player, will stay for their journey to the Championship, ongoing contract negotiations keep West Bromwich Albion optimistic. They hope to entice Murphy to relocate to the West Midlands, eager to have a player with a similar style to Phillips once again.