West Brom set to make a decisive player choice this summer and progress forward.

The upcoming end of the 2023-24 season marks a period when clubs across divisions assess whether to extend contracts for players whose deals are expiring soon. West Brom faces uncertainty regarding the futures of several first-team members, including Erik Pieters.

Erik Pieters’ time at West Brom

The left-sided defender joined the Baggies last season as a free agent after leaving Burnley on a free transfer.

With Pieters signing outside of the summer window in 2023, it’s fair to say it wasn’t the sort of signing that attracted a lot of attention, and he was initially signed to provide cover in defence as Steve Bruce’s side struggled.

The change in management happened around six weeks after Pieters arrival, but he became a useful figure under Carlos Corberan, making 36 appearances in the previous campaign.

Whilst he is by no means a first-team regular, Pieters has continued to feature this season, as he’s played a part in 22 games as Albion push for the Premier League.

Erik Pieters’ West Brom contract situation

Yet, it remains to be seen whether the Dutch defender will extend his stay at The Hawthorns into a third season, as the one-year deal he agreed last summer has just a few months to run.

Albion is likely to defer any player decisions until the season concludes due to financial and football considerations, especially if they secure a Premier League spot. Nonetheless, according to Albion fan pundit Matt, this summer presents an opportune moment for Pieters to depart.

Matt suggests that given the club’s aspirations, potentially returning to the Premier League, it’s advisable for Pieters to move on. While acknowledging Pieters’ decent contributions since his low-cost acquisition as a depth addition, Matt believes there are more promising young players at the club ready to step up. He commends Pieters for his efforts but notes that at 35 years old, his lack of mobility could be a concern if playing in the Championship next season.

West Brom’s summer plans

Whether Albion are successful in their bid to return to the top-flight, it promises to be an exciting summer for the club under new owner Shilen Patel.

After years of mismanagement under Guochuan Lai, the fans got the change they wanted, and whilst Patel isn’t expected to splash huge sums of cash in the summer, he will give Corberan more backing than he has had in the past.

The likes of Alex Mowatt and Kyle Bartley are among some other senior figures who are out of contract in the summer, and it will be interesting to see what happens with the players.

These conversations will no doubt take place when the season finishes, but, first things first, it’s about reaching the play-offs for West Brom and then trying to come through those high-pressure games and return to the Premier League.

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