‘Welcome back’ - West Brom confirm return of goalkeeper following shock Palmer deal
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West Brom have confirmed the return of 23-year-old goalkeeper Josh Griffiths from Bristol Rovers as the Baggies look to find a solution to the unexpected deadline day departure of Alex Palmer.
Palmer joined Premier League side Ipswich Town earlier on Monday in a deal believed to be worth up to £5m. That leaves Baggies boss Tony Mowbray without a clear starting goalkeeper, but Griffiths’ return to the Hawthorns could provide a possible solution.
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Hide AdGriffiths has been on a season-long loan at the Memorial Stadium, but West Brom have now activated a recall clause in his contract and he will return the Midlands with immediate effect.
He is now expected to compete with current back-up Joe Wildsmith for the vacant number one jersey, with no immediate indications that West Brom have a deal for a new goalkeeper lined up before the 11pm deadline.
Griffiths departure a blow for Bristol Rovers
Griffiths’ return to the Hawthorns could prove to be a bitter blow for relegation-threatened Bristol Rovers as they battle to hang on to their League One status.
The West Brom loanee had been their first-choice stopper since the start of the season, making 33 appearances for the Gas and keeping eight clean sheets. In an announcement acknowledging his departure, Bristol Rovers thanked Griffiths for his “dedication, professionalism and hard work during his time with the club” after he was “unexpectedly” asked to return to his parent team.
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Hide AdBristol Rovers have since announced the recall of their own loanee, Jed Ward, and the arrival of Watford goalkeeper Myles Roberts as they work to plug their own goalkeeping gap.
The Gas’ loss is likely to be West Brom’s gain, however. Griffiths was impressive at the Memorial Stadium and has made more saves that any other goalkeeper in League One so far this season, with performances that will give Tony Mowbray hope that he will be able to fill Palmer’s shoes.
West Brom busy on deadline day
Aside from the carousel of transfers between the sticks, West Brom have been relatively busy on deadline day, and announced the capture of promising Danish forward Tammer Bany earlier today in a deal believed to be worth up to £3.3m including add-ons. Bany, who can play across the front three or as an attacking midfielder, arrives from Superliga side Randers, for whom he scored two goals in 15 league appearances this season.
There are also reports which suggest that an eleventh-hour loan bid for Southampton striker Adam Armstrong will be successful. Armstrong, who has a strong track record in the second tier having scored over 50 goals for Blackburn Rovers, will provide some much-needed firepower up front as Tony Mowbray’s team look to halt a recent run of disappointing form.
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Hide AdSaturday’s surprise 2-1 defeat to Plymouth Argyle means that the Baggies have now won just one of their last six games in all competitions and they are now hanging on to a place in the play-off places by goal difference alone. They are back in action this weekend when they welcome Sheffield Wednesday to the Hawthorns.
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