Why West Brom must rival Southampton to sign their new Tom Fellows

West Bromwich Albion have been quick out of the gates in the summer transfer window in an attempt to improve their squad for the Championship season.

Finishing 21st in the Championship in the 2025/26 campaign was not good enough for the Baggies, hence why they sacked Ryan Mason and Eric Ramsay.

James Morrison is now in charge on a full-time basis after leading the team to safety last term, and he has moved to bolster his options at the top end of the pitch.

West Brom only scored 48 goals in 46 matches in the Championship last season, barely more than one per match, and failed to score in three of their last six matches.

They have signed centre-forward Barney Stewart on a permanent deal from Falkirk and attacking midfielder Jimmy-Jay Morgan from Premier League giants Chelsea.

Why West Brom need their next Tom Fellows

Stewart and Morgan combined for 32 goals in all competitions in the 2025/26 campaign, as the Scottish striker scored 18 goals for Dunfermline and Falkirk, whilst the latter scored 14 times on loan at Peterborough United.

It is pointless to sign lethal goalscorers, though, without playmakers to create the chances that they need to find the back of the net, which is why West Brom need to find their next version of Tom Fellows.

No player has created more ‘big chances’ (13) or provided more assists (14) in the league for the Baggies since the English forward left to sign for Southampton for £10m in the summer of 2025.

Fellows topped the Championship charts for assists in the 2024/25 campaign for West Brom, joint with Josh Murphy, whilst none of the club’s players managed to hit double figures last term.

The Baggies, therefore, should be in the market to add more creativity to their squad before the end of the summer transfer window, to ensure that Morgan and Stewart are not left starved of service at The Hawthorns next term.

West Brom must challenge Southampton for World Cup star

With that in mind, the club must look to challenge Southampton to the signing of a star whom they are looking at as a possible replacement for Fellows.

The Saints are reportedly in a race with Scottish giants Celtic and Rangers to secure a deal for Motherwell right winger Elijah Just, who has been at the World Cup with New Zealand.

Described as the “best player in the league” in Scotland by national team boss Darren Bazeley, the left-footed star caught the eye with his impressive displays in the Premiership last season.

Like Fellows, Just is a left-footed player who plays on the right wing and looks to constantly create chances for his teammates, as evidenced by his 11 ‘big chances’ created in the league last term.

No West Brom player managed more than 11 ‘big chances’ created in the Championship, despite having eight more games than the Premiership has, which speaks to the New Zealand international’s creative quality.

Whilst being the creative talent that Stewart and Morgan will need, Just is also an impressive goalscorer who can provide a threat in the final third with his shooting ability, as shown by a return of three goals in three games at the World Cup. As a result, Kiwi journalist Michael Burgess has revealed that some “seriously big teams” want to sign him.

New Zealand were, unfortunately, knocked out in the group stage after picking up one point from three matches, but the winger scored two goals against Iran and found the back of the net against Belgium.

He has the quality to provide a dual threat at the top end of the pitch with goals and creativity on the right wing, which is why he would be such a strong addition to Morrison’s squad this summer.

Just can be the club’s new Fellows with the assists that he can offer from the right wing, creating chances for Stewart and Morgan on a regular basis, and that is why they must challenge Southampton for his signature in the coming weeks.