West Brom could avoid being forced into a fire sale in the January transfer window, with progress being made on the prospective takeover, with the intention to have a deal concluded by January, according to John Percy. Percy shared the news via his Twitter account [29 November], writing that there is a sense at the club that something is getting closer, comparing it to Derby’s takeover last year which took just 17 days. The Telegraph [19 September] reported that having failed to raise money from sales in the summer transfer window, Albion could be forced into a fire sale of players in January.According to John Percy, West Brom could avoid being forced into a fire sale during the January transfer window, as progress is being made on the prospective takeover, with the objective of having a deal completed by January. Percy announced the news on Twitter [29 November], writing that there is a sense inside the club that something is getting closer, comparing it to Derby County’s takeover last year, which took only 17 days. The Telegraph [19 September] suggested that, after failing to acquire funds through sales during the summer transfer window, Albion may be obliged to sell players in January. View Tweet BBC Sport journalist Steve Hermon wrote on 27 November that regardless of any takeover there is a need to lower the wage bill at The Hawthorns and that this could see some of the club’s talented players leave in January, although he went on to say they would not be forced to sell for silly prices. If the takeover does go though, the cash injection and presumed clearing of existing debts at The Hawthorns would limit the desperation for player sales to raise money, with the focus moving to trimming a bloated wage bill. As things stand, the money received from player sales would likely go towards clearing the club of its debts, with Guochuan Lai and the West Bromwich Albion Group Limited unwilling to invest their own money into Albion.
A potential takeover will put an end to that, and the ambition to have it completed by January shows how everyone at the club is working to push this forward for the benefit of West Brom and the fans.
Inside the Carlos Corberan revolution at #wba. Special report from West Brom's HQ after @TeleFootball was given exclusive access to watch 'King Carlos' in full flow. Periodisation, extreme tactical detail & high intensity. "Being a coach is a dream" ⬇️ https://t.co/GkCPcBN6Db
— John Percy (@JPercyTelegraph) November 29, 2023
The likes of Grady Diangana, Tom Fellows, Brandon Thomas-Asante and Alex Palmer have all been linked to moves away from The Hawthorns since the summer transfer window, but the hope will now be that the takeover will allow Albion some confidence of keeping their top players.