Rayhaan Tulloch: What went wrong for West Brom's young gem and has his chance gone?

Would he be the next Saido Berahino? Maybe not, but he was an asset for West Brom.

He must have had something because on the back of a two-and-a-half year deal in 2018, he was given a four year contract by Bilic in 2020.

Contracts like that don't just get given to anyone. It came amid interest from Rangers, Bournemouth, Southampton, Newcastle and Sunderland.

But unlike some who had come before him, who had gone on to find the grass wasn't always greener after snubbing potential first team chances at the club for the big boys, Tulloch remained at Albion.

However, those first team opportunities just did not come, and now on the back of a handful of mediocre loans, he is looking at his future being away from The Hawthorns.

Unless he can produce something spectacular in his season long loan at League Two Bradford City - Tulloch will be a free agent next summer.

So how did it change so dramatically?

He had already been handed his Baggies debut and made a small number of cup appearances when Bilic put that big contract in front of him, and at the time the Croatian's words were hugely exciting for the fanbase.

Back in 2020, he said: "I am so happy about it.

“Ray hasn’t played a lot, but he is the type of player that everyday puts a smile on your face.

“He is an exceptional talent. He has very quick feet, very good skill, a very good sense of the game.

“We are delighted and I am delighted he committed himself to us – especially nowadays when you see a lot of young players walking out of their clubs.

“He has a big, big future but only if he continues to work hard.”

“If he continues to work as hard as he is working now it should be a really good story for West Brom and for Ray.”

After a string of players swapped Albion for big clubs in previous years, such as Morgan Rogers and Izzy Brown, it looked as though Albion have kept hold of a gem.

Despite the fact Albion had put faith in him, loan moves were required to give him the experience he netted.

An old face, a familiar manager in Darren Moore took him to Doncaster Rovers but after just two games he returned due to injury. Moore would show interest in Tulloch once more during his time at Sheffield Wednesday.

But for another two years Tulloch did not go anywhere. He suffered injuries like any other player but no other loan moves came around.

The following campaign, in 2021/2022, he featured as a substitute on just two occasions, once for Valerien Ismael in a win at Blackburn, and once for Steve Bruce in a defeat at Middlesbrough.

Since then, he has not turned out in the blue and white of Albion in a first team fixture.

He made 14 appearances for Rochdale in the first half of last season - before a surprise move to League of Ireland side Dundalkcame around.

While in Ireland he netted a handful of goals - but for Albion fans they were resigned to the fact that this young star, tipped for huge things by Bilic, was destined to be another who didn't quite make the grade.

But what has gone wrong? When a young talent comes through but aren't handed big opportunities, you tend to hear they are a bad egg, or something hasn't gone quite right.

However, that hasn't been the case here. And talent wise, a manager like Bilic isn't going to just throw a big contract at a player if he doesn't have the technical ability.

Has he really had a chance? You would say no, as you can say for a host of other youngsters, but there has to be a reason for that.

A return to England and Albion was soon followed by a late switch to Bradford City this summer, where he has netted once in four outings for the Bantams.

Is he in the last chance saloon for a return to Albion? Well, the saloon door is almost starting to shut and you could argue Tulloch is currently a free agent but one who is under contract.

If this loan spell goes like those that have gone before, he won't be a West Brom player next summer.

If he scores ten to 15 goals for Bradford City and lights up League Two, is there a decision to be made then? Quite possibly.

But what direction to Albion go in, if Tulloch proves to be a huge success in League Two. Past evidence says it is unlikely but he could surprise people.

If he does that, could Albion offer him another year? It is all hypothetical but they certainly won't shower him with a four year deal like Bilic did back in 2020.

The door is not shut on Tulloch's Albion career, and he still thinks he can cut it at Championship level.

But to prevent it from slamming shut, he needs to produce something pretty spectacular this season at Valley Parade.