OPINION
West Bromwich Albion have still made just one signing this month in the shape of a loan for Everton full-back Mason Holgate.
Baggies boss Darren Moore will no doubt be looking to make one or two more additions before the month is up as they attempt to keep pace at the top of the Championship table.
One area he may be looking to strengthen is in wide areas, where the Baggies have lacked a bit of pace and threat over the course of the season so far.
One target the club are reportedly considering is Newcastle wide man Jacob Murphy, with Football Insider claiming that the 23-year-old is closing on a loan move to the Hawthorns.
West Brom fans may meet this claim with disdain, with Murphy having failed to make any kind of impact at St. James’ Park since his big-money move from Norwich, but this could end up being a smart move from Moore.
Cast your mind back to the 2016/17 season and Murphy was one of the Championship’s stand-out players, registering eight goals and eight assists for the Canaries.
A move back to the second-tier could therefore be exactly the move that the speed machine needs, with the pressure potentially getting too much for him in the Premier League.
A return to a division he knows he can perform in may do wonders for his confidence, and a rejuvenated Murphy could be a key player for the Baggies in the second half of the season.
This may not be a move which is well-received, but it could end up being one which helps the Baggies on their quest for promotion, and one which in turn will be remembered on the terraces.