Middlesbrough could end up with a bunch of West Brom faces in the club ranks next season with Tony Pulis planning a massive overhaul. The 60-year-old wants to bring in James Morrison along with Chris Brunt, Craig Dawson and Ben Foster to the Riverside Stadium.
Whether all four will quit the Hawthorns cannot be guaranteed, it is expected for at least one of them to make the switch. Morrison could be a quality addition who will bring in a lot of top-flight experience into the Boro side.
The central midfielder has spent the better part of his playing career with the Baggies and have appeared in over 300 games for the club while bringing in 39 goals and 36 assists. Morrison has an old-school gritty presence who will carry out his midfield duties for the entirety of the 90 minutes.
He might not be the most flashy in terms of footwork or creativity but he will formulate the club’s offence when given the ball. Standing at 5 feet 10 inches tall, his agility helps him weave his way out of tight spaces.
After appearing in 17 games for the England youth sides, Morrison has declared his services for Scotland and has made 36 senior appearances. He is best suited to the attacking midfield role but can appear from deeper positions as well.
Something which Middlesbrough might require, when Lewis Baker, Marko Grujic and Muhamed Besic, all return to their respective clubs after the season. Adam Clayton, Grant Leadbitter and Jonny Howson are the current first-choice players to represent the Boro midfield but things might change on Morrison’s arrival.
The North Yorkshire based club have resurfaced in the playoff spots after winning 4 of their last 6 league appearances. Pulis’ defensive setup has worked well in the final stretch and might just see the side win promotion through the playoffs.
West Brom, on the other hand, are undergoing a tumultuous season in the Premier League and are staged at the bottom-most spot of the table. Pulis’ sacking saw Alan Pardew take up the head coach position after facing the axe at Crystal Palace.
With just 8 games left in the regular season, Albion have registered just 20 points to their name and 10 points adrift from safety.
A drop to the lower division will bring a bout of financial insecurity, which will be hard to handle with every player on the payroll. While some might be offloaded, the Baggies will have to find cheaper options in the next summer window.
