Four areas West Brom must strengthen for 2025/26

It is understood it will be a summer of evolution and not revolution at The Hawthorns, despite the change at the top which saw Mason become the Baggies' youngest boss in 100 years.

Eleven players were brought to the club last summer - seven permanent signings and four loans - and the same volume is not expected this time around as Albion refine and strengthen a group that toiled to a poor ninth-placed finish under the sacked Tony Mowbray.

Here are four more departments Albion could do with reinforcement before the transfer deadline of September 1.

Centre-forward

The big one. Arguably. Albion's existing striker options are Josh Maja - who despite finishing last season as top scorer spent half the campaign injured - Daryl Dike and Devante Cole.

Maja and Dike have both endured injury issues at The Hawthorns, that is an understatement for the latter, and both enter the final year of their Baggies deals.

Thirty-year-old Cole, a free agent from League One Barnsley last summer, did not start a single league fixture.

Albion are looking to stock their frontline - with sporting director Andrew Nestor and director of football operations Ian Pearce leading the drive. 

The club like former loanee Will Lankshear, 20, of Spurs. The promising frontman, with obvious links to new boss Mason, could be in line for another stint at The Hawthorns.

The Baggies were also credited with interest in Hearts' Lawrence Shankland, 29, though that suggestion was wide of the mark, and QPR's Charlie Kelman, 23, who had a prolific loan in League One with Leyton Orient.

Full-back

Darnell Furlong and Callum Styles have both proven themselves, over the long and short term respectively, to be very competent full-backs on the right and left side.

The former is no stranger and heads into a seventh season in the Black Country. He turns 30 in October and is nearing 250 appearances.

Callum Styles, another recruit from Barnsley last summer, is a different case and grew into his debut campaign superbly. For a player not a natural left-back his whole career, he developed into the role so well.

But beyond Furlong and Styles options are thin on the ground. Gianluca Frabotta, the Italian left-back, was also signed last summer but barely featured and seems surplus to the requirements. Furlong was a regular on the other side, but lacked competition and depth and at times he fell below his consistent best.

Torbjorn Heggem, the club's star defender, is capable of playing at left-back, but there feels a need for a touch more depth to push the regulars on.

Attacking midfield/wingers

At the minute it is more central attacking players Albion's current group lacks after the exits of free agents John Swift and Grady Diangana, who both flattered to deceive.

Tammer Bany, the £3m January signing from Denmark, is an exciting prospect for the new season and much is hoped.

Northern Ireland international Isaac Price has shown an ability to play in the number 10 role, but he may be preferred deeper as a more box-to-box midfield option. Bany may need more competition or back-up.

As it stands Albion have Tom Fellows, Jed Wallace, Mikey Johnson and Karlan Grant in their ranks - two wingers or wide forwards for either flank.

That may not remain the case throughout the summer, though, with possible outward movement there.

If the Baggies do lose another body in that area, then it becomes a particular need to strengthen. Bournemouth star David Brooks has been rumoured as a target, he is an excellent talent and would walk into any Championship side, but no talks or a deal are at any advanced stage.

Midfield

Feels a bit lower down the priority list with the bodies currently in the squad Mason inherited, but Albion will always have an eye on possible upgrades.

Current options are regulars Alex Mowatt, Jayson Molumby, last summer's recruit Ousmane Diakite, whose debut campaign was at-times encouraging and the aforementioned Price.

Mowatt and Molumby complement each other well and Price added some real dynamism and ability n there but there could be room for more within Mason's midfield options.

Perhaps younger competition for a ball-player like Mowatt, who turns 31 this season, could be on the agenda. Molumby adds raw energy, Diakite's game is a combative one and Price is an attack-minded technician with good agility. There is also young academy prospect Harry Whitwell, 19, who is pushing to make the grade and resembles Price.

But another midfield in a similar mould to Mowatt looks a useful bet.