West Bromwich Albion are in the market to make further additions to their frontline before the summer transfer window slams shut at the start of September.
The Baggies have already added Jimmy Jay Morgan and Barney Stewart to their attack on permanent deals, and both players have got off the mark in pre-season so far.
Southampton striker Cameron Archer, though, has emerged as a target for James Morrison after Josh Maja and Karlan Grant both moved on from the club to become free agents at the start of the month.
They have already held talks with the Saints to explore a potential deal for the former Aston Villa marksman, who could arrive to bolster the manager’s options in the number nine position.
West Brom should avoid a deal for Cameron Archer
Instead of continuing to pursue a move for the 24-year-old centre-forward, the Baggies should look elsewhere to add more quality to their attack in the coming weeks.
West Brom already have Heggebo and Stewart as out-and-out number nine options, whilst Morgan can also play there, but they only have two natural out-and-out wide players, Mikey Johnston and academy graduate Ollie Bostock.
Archer is not a particularly versatile player who is likely to arrive at The Hawthorns and play significant minutes in the wide areas, as he is a natural striker, which could mean that he struggles for game time behind Heggebo and Stewart up front.
|
Cameron Archer for Southampton |
|
|---|---|
|
Position |
Games |
|
ST |
35 |
|
AM |
3 |
|
RW |
2 |
|
LM |
1 |
|
RM |
1 |
|
SS |
1 |
The former England U21 international has never played more than three games in a non-striker position for the Saints, since joining them from Villa in the summer of 2024.
His lack of versatility suggests that he would not help the Baggies to solve the real problem that they have in the wide areas, which is why the club should turn their attention to a more versatile attacker who can cover multiple positions in the forward line.
West Brom must target another Southampton forward
Whilst Archer may not be the ideal fit for what Morrison needs for his squad, there is another Southampton outcast who could fit the bill this summer.
West Brom were touted as a possible destination for Ben Brereton Diaz earlier this summer, competing with Middlesbrough for his signature, and the Chile international has yet to make a move away from St. Mary’s.
The Baggies, therefore, still have time to land their target, and they should pursue a deal for the right-footed whiz, as he would be an even better addition to the squad than Archer would be.
|
25/26 Championship |
Brereton Diaz |
Archer |
|---|---|---|
|
Appearances |
40 |
30 |
|
xG |
7.29 |
5.53 |
|
Goals |
7 |
4 |
|
xG differential |
-0.29 |
-1.53 |
|
Big chances created |
7 |
2 |
|
xA |
3.71 |
1.52 |
|
Assists |
3 |
3 |
Brereton Diaz produced five more goals and created five more ‘big chances’ than Archer in the Championship last term, whilst on loan at Derby County from Southampton.
The Chilean forward, who joined the Saints from Villarreal for a fee of £7m, took his career tally in the second tier to 64 goals with his seven strikes last season.
He is an incredibly experienced Championship operator, thanks to spells with Blackburn, Nottingham Forest, Southampton, Sheffield United, and Derby, and would be able to hit the ground running at The Hawthorns.
Not only would Brereton Diaz offer more quality as a striker as both a scorer and a creator of goals, the 27-year-old forward would also offer more versatility than Archer.
The England-born forward has played 103 matches as a left winger and 73 games as a right winger in his club career, to go alongside 129 outings as a centre-forward, which shows that he is comfortable on either flank or as an out-and-out number nine.
His versatility means that West Brom would have the depth that they need on both wings, as he can play either side, and they would have another option alongside Heggebo and Stewart for the number nine role.
Therefore, West Brom should push to sign Brereton Diaz from Southampton, rather than Archer, because it would be better for the overall squad and he could deliver more quality in the final third in the here and now.