'Name that screams out to me...' Sacked Championship boss tipped as a top West Brom candidate

Cleverley, 35, was dismissed from his role as head coach at the Baggies' Championship rivals Watford at the beginning of this month after a 14th-placed finish.

And former Albion midfielder Andy Johnson, who works in a co-commentary role covering the club, has heard positive things about the young head coach and would welcome his appointment at The Hawthorns.

The Hornets are renowned at chopping and changing head coaches and Cleverley's 13-month stint in charge can be considered a consolidated spell by Watford standards.

"I think it (the younger head coach) is the way football is going a little bit," Johnson told the Express & Star. "There are a lot of young, exciting coaches coming through. A lot around Europe, and in the UK too.

"The name that screams out to me is Tom Cleverley. We played down in Watford and his side were unbeaten for a long run at home.

"You can't be judged on being the Watford manager - he lasted longer than most down there! They were very good that day.

"Speaking to (former Albion team-mate) Paul Robinson, who worked under Tom down there, he said he's a great manager to be around the place, really organised, gets real togetherness in the lads.

"Someone like that is perfect for us, young, enthusiastic, vibrant and with new ideas. I don't think we'll see a manager who is a bit older."

Cleverley was the longest-serving Watford boss since Javi Gracia, who managed 20 months between 2018 and 2019, in which he led the Hornets to the FA Cup final. Italian businessman Gino Pozzo has earned a reputation as happy to dismiss coaches since he became owner over a decade ago.

Slaven Bilic and Valerien Ismael have both managed at Vicarage Road in the period since departing as Albion head coach in 2020 and 2022 respectively.

He oversaw a 2-1 success over Carlos Corberan's Baggies in Hertfordshire in December in a 14th-match unbeaten run at home to begin the campaign, which last until the final match of 2024.

The Hornets struggled for results in January and form tailed off again at the end of the season, including a 2-1 reverse at The Hawthorns.

Cleverley, the former Villa loan midfielder, called time on his playing career as a Watford player as was originally in an interim role before taking the position permanently. He has been loosely linked with several vacancies since his Hornets dismissal.

Albion owners Bilkul are eyeing an appointment of a similar mould and profile. The highly-regarded coach Eric Ramsay, who at 33 is catching the eye in the United States with Minnesota, was considered but is no longer in the running, it is understood. Tottenham coach Ryan Mason, 33, was previously looked at in January.