OPINION
West Brom’s defeat to Bolton on Saturday highlighted a glaring flaw in Darren Moore’s squad – there is virtually no creativity in the midfield.
While Chris Brunt can swing in beautiful corners and free-kicks all day long, there is very little created in terms of clear-cut chances from open play.
Now that the Baggies have wrapped up the loan signing of Dwight Gayle from Newcastle United, they need to set their sights on how they are going to give him the supply of chances to stick the ball in the back of the net.
Thankfully, Moore may have found the answer.
HITC reports that West Brom are plotting a last-gasp bid to sign Peterborough attacker Marcus Maddison.
It is understood that Leeds and Reading are also in hot pursuit of the 24-year-old and lining up their own offers before the 5pm transfer deadline on Thursday.
Maddison was in stellar form last season for Peterborough.
The creative genius supplied a mouthwatering 23 assists in 53 appearances across all competitions, and even managed to chip in with 12 goals of his own.
The former Gateshead player can feature anywhere in the attacking midfield, but West Brom should get him in to play behind Gayle in a 4-2-3-1 system that will also see Harvey Barnes and Matt Phillips wreak havoc on both of the wings.
With Maddison on board, Gayle will surely be looking at a season where he can score 30 or more goals in the blue and white stripes, having previously proved his usefulness in front of goal in the second-tier.
During Newcastle’s Championship title-winning season in 2015/16, the former Crystal Palace forward scored 23 goals in 32 league games.
If he is able to stay fit and plays in pretty much all of Albion’s game this season, he is surely going to the Championship’s golden boot winner.