West Brom transfer state of play ahead of deadline day as Albion finalise deals

West Brom’s imminent signing of Mikey Johnston from Celtic ahead of transfer deadline day is considered to be almost certainly their tenth and final addition of what has been a hectic and fascinating summer of business conducted by the club.

Winger Johnston is due to return to the club on a permanent basis from Celtic in a deal which could be worth up to £3m, after he enjoyed an excellent loan spell in the second half of last season; he scored seven goals in 20 appearances for the Baggies having joined on loan last January and helped to ensure they’d have a crack at promotion via the play-offs.

There was interest from Burnley and Sheffield United this summer, but Albion have been able to work a deal to bring the Ireland international back to The Hawthorns, something Johnston himself was keen to do. It has also been a deal which Carlos Corberan had hoped to be able to conclude over the course of this summer.

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Johnston was set to have a medical at Albion’s training ground on Thursday having travelled back to the Midlands on Wednesday evening. All being well, he’ll be unveiled as soon as possible and is in line to be involved when Albion welcome Swansea City to The Hawthorns this Saturday (KO 3pm).

Corberan was keen to add another attacker and while for a long time that was expected to be a centre forward, the availability of Johnston saw the club switch their priorities. Corberan believes that, despite losing Brandon Thomas-Asante this summer, he has enough in the squad to cope if anything were to happen to first choice forward Josh Maja.

Albion do not anticipate any further business involving any of their existing senior stars. Jed Wallace has been mooted as a potential target for former club Portsmouth and relegated Luton Town, but it’s understood Albion haven’t any intentions of parting with their captain, who is competing with Tom Fellows on the right for a spot in the starting XI.

The club could, potentially, grant loan moves to young pair Mo Faal and Caleb Taylor if opportunities present themselves before Friday night’s deadline at 11pm. Taylor has been on loan previously with Cheltenham Town and Bolton Wanderers and Albion feel comfortable that they have enough depth to allow him another spell away, if a chance arrives. Faal, meanwhile, spent time with Doncaster Rovers and Walsall last year.

It’ll be the first time Albion have signed as many as 10 players in a single summer since the 2014-15 window, during the tenure of Alan Irvine. They’ve recently concluded deals for Uros Racic and Callum Styles, who could make their debuts on Saturday, while Gianluca Frabotta, Ousmane Diakite and Torbjorn Heggem have joined from the continent. Albion have also added Devante Cole, Joe Wildsmith and pair Paddy McNair and Lewis Dobbin on loan spells.

It was a necessary rebuild, during which the club have reduced the wage bill and the average age of the squad after an exodus at the end of last season. Adam Reach, Matt Phillips, Nathaniel Chalobah and Erik Pieters, as well as sales Okay Yokuslu, Thomas-Asante and Conor Townsend, were among 19 first-team and academy players who left the club over the course of the window.