West Brom set to make crucial January transfer decision
West Brom have a decision to make on the future of loan star Caleb Taylor coming up.
With Semi Ajayi expected to be out injured well into the new year and versatile Paddy McNair’s loan spell ending at the culmination of this calendar year, they have an option to recall their young centre-back to plug a gap at the back.
Corberan confirmed that the clause exists, however he is doing so well at Wycombe that they may not want to halt his progression, especially given they do still have Mason Holgate and Kyle Bartley to play centre-back and Torbjorn Heggem could move across from left-back.
READ MORE: Arrest made after death of Steve Bruce's four-month old grandson Madison
READ MORE: West Brom message sent after 'difficult' defeat to Watford
Taylor has been a big part in high-flying Wycombe’s ascension to the top of League One, even above big spending Birmingham City, and scored his first goal in the 4-1 romp over Shrewsbury at the weekend. He has played 15 times in a defence that has kept six clean sheets so far.
He is highly rated at the club, both by coaches and supporters, and it is no surprise given he has all the attributes to make it at this level. He is tall, strong and good on the ball.
Albion showed how much they rate him when they gave the 21-year-old academy graduate a new four-year contract until the summer of 2028.
At the time, Taylor, who was on loan at League One side Bolton Wanderers between February and May earlier in 2024 in their run to the play-off final, made no secret of his high hopes: “I’ve been here for such a long time and this is the club I’ve always wanted to play for. Knowing that I’m going to be here for another four years is a great feeling and I want to keep progressing and force my way into the team.”
He is widely regarded as the future of the club in that position and should learn from the likes of Kyle Bartley in his position.
Corberan was asked if there is an option to recall and confirmed: “Yes in January. Always when we make the loans with a player that needs game-time, we put the possibility to make a recall in January because it is important to manage this because maybe the loan is working well or maybe it is not working or maybe you have a need.
“Right now, let’s say it has not been my priority to follow his progress. In some points I do because we always have a plan to talk with the players about how we are watching, we have a loan manager following the progress.
“We are happy how he is progressing. The information I receive is very positive, it makes us happy. The target of his loan was to give him minutes, during this year he is having minutes and with these minutes we think that it is exactly what he needs to develop as a player. I think he is showing his level in a League One team and he is showing the consistency in one position that I wanted to develop with one formation that I wanted to see. I think this loan is suiting him very well.”