West Bromwich Albion forward Brandon Thomas-Asante had a forgettable outing against Sunderland, mustering just ten touches before receiving a red card in the 43rd minute. This led to a rare Championship victory for the Black Cats, leaving Thomas-Asante disheartened while Sunderland celebrated their crucial three points.
Despite this setback, Thomas-Asante has had a relatively successful season, scoring 12 goals across all competitions as West Brom’s primary striker.
In contrast, another former Baggies attacker tarnished his reputation upon leaving in 2017, despite having been a prolific goal scorer in the past.
Saido Berahino’s time at West Brom
Before his relationship with the Baggies soured irreparably, Saido Berahino was revered as a hero by West Brom fans, rising through the ranks as a local talent.
In his initial full season with the senior squad, Berahino showed promise by scoring nine goals across all competitions, with five in the Premier League. The following season, he improved further, netting 14 times in 38 games.
However, Berahino’s form declined afterward, managing only four more goals before pushing for a transfer to clubs like Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea. His departure to Stoke City, for £12m, was seen as a positive move by West Brom, given his disruptive presence and lack of fitness, which earned him criticism from figures like Harry Redknapp.
Despite the transfer fee, Berahino’s high wages continued to strain West Brom’s finances, highlighting the impact of his turbulent exit on the club’s financial health.
Berahino likely didn’t mind upsetting fans given his hefty paycheck of £80k per week during his last season at the Hawthorns. Despite earning such a substantial amount, he played only five games and failed to score, compounding the frustration felt by supporters.
| West Brom highest earners – 2016/17 | |
|---|---|
| 1. Saido Berahino | £80k per week |
| 2. Claudio Yacob | £60k per week |
| 3. Salomon Rondon | £60k per week |
| 4. Nacer Chadli | £55k per week |
| 5. Darren Fletcher | £52k per week |
| Sourced by Capology | |
Amazingly, West Brom’s highest earner this season in Adam Reach – who pockets £40k-per-week – wouldn’t even break into this top five list above when the Baggies were giving out lucrative wages for fun in the Premier League.
Current Albion striker, Thomas-Asante, takes home £20k-per-week which means Berahino was earning four times the ex-Salford City attacker’s wage, even when everything was beginning to go wrong for the former fans’ favourite.
While Berahino currently plays for AEL Limassol in Cyprus, Thomas-Asante has the opportunity to redeem himself in the eyes of West Brom fans by regaining his goal-scoring form post-suspension. Berahino, on the other hand, stands as a symbol of lost potential and disappointment for the Baggies faithful, once adored but now regarded with disappointment.
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