Schlupp and Tottenham gem sign: West Brom's blockbuster new 2025/26 line-up if transfer rumours are true

A strong end to the transfer window could make all the difference for West Bromwich Albion this upcoming season. New head coach Ryan Mason has arrived for his first role in the top job and expectations will be high.

The Baggies finished ninth last campaign and improvement will be demanded, with play-offs the minimum target for Mason and his new side. Some strong early transfer business has certainly helped their cause, with a striker and a defender brought in to amount to a total spend of nearly £8m.

Albion may need to use the loan market wisely in the remainder of the window unless they can raise funds, with Mikey Johnstone’s prospective move to Flamengo falling through but the winger still expected to depart the Hawthorns.

We had a look at how West Brom could line up under Mason in the new season, with additional arrivals completing a menacing new starting XI for the Championship outfit.

How West Brom’s defence and midfield could line up

West Brom will likely start with young goalkeeper Josh Griffiths in goal, behind a largely established defence. Nat Phillips has arrived from Liverpool in a £3m deal and looks set to start alongside Torbjorn Heggem in central defence, with the reliable performers of Callum Styles and Darnell Furlong on either side at full-back.

In midfield, 21-year-old Isaac Price arrived from Standard Liege in January and slotted calmly into the Baggies midfield alongside Jayson Molumby. The pair could continue to start under Mason next to a new arrival in the shape of Jeffrey Schlupp. The 32-year-old is available as a free agent after being released by Crystal Palace, where he was on the books for eight years after seven years and a Premier League title with Leicester City. Schlupp has played all over the park throughout his career, but could start in central midfield if he arrives at the Hawthorns.

Loan signings add to a wealth of attacking options

West Brom look to already have a potent selection of attacking players within their ranks, but Mason could yet use his Spurs connections to secure a couple more loan signings before the end of the window.

Mikey Moore is a target and would be a headline-grabbing acquisition, as he has already featured and scored for the Tottenham senior side despite being just 17 years old. It could be Moore’s time to experience regular first-team football and where better to do it than under the tutelage of former assistant head coach Mason at Albion. Neymar-compared Moore could come in and start on the left wing, replacing his outgoing namesake Mikey Johnston.

Albion starlet Tom Fellows will start on the right. An England U21 international of their own, the Baggies will hope to hold onto Fellows this summer amidst significant attention from the Premier League.

Through the centre, Norwegian striker Aune Heggebo has arrived for a big fee believed to be around £4.7m and is likely to get the chance to start in the centre forward position. But Josh Maja will have something to say about that - if he can remain fit - and there could be a battle between two top strikers for a starting berth. Mason may rotate between the two and other options such as Daryl Dike and Karlan Grant.

The new head coach could also add to his competitive strike force with another loan move for Spurs forward Will Lankshear, who spent some time on loan with the club last season and would offer another option off the bench.

Full starting XI (4-3-3): Griffiths; Furlong, Phillips, Heggem, Styles; Price, Molumby, Schlupp; Fellows, Heggebo, Moore.