Five strikers West Brom could sign to replace Maja & Grant

West Bromwich Albion recently confirmed that Karlan Grant and Josh Maja will not be returning to The Hawthorns ahead of the 2026/27 campaign.

They became free agents at the start of the month when their respective contracts expired, but the Baggies had placed offers and were in talks to keep hold of both of them.

Unfortunately, the club were unable to tie either of them down to contract extensions and they are now free to go and find new clubs elsewhere in the country, or world.

Whilst Barney Stewart has been brought in from Falkirk, West Brom may still want to add another number nine to fill the void left by Maja and Grant, and here are five potential targets for them to look at.

5

Ross Stewart

Ross Stewart is a potentially affordable option for the club to look at because he has been a free agent since his contract with Southampton expired at the start of the month.

The Scotland international, who played nine minutes at the World Cup, is a proven Championship striker who could be a phenomenal addition to the squad if they can keep him fit.

Stewart’s return of nine goals in 1,104 minutes in the second tier for the Saints last term meant that he ended the campaign with the best minutes per goal rate in the entire division.

The Scottish star, who scored 11 goals in all competitions for Southampton, would arrive at The Hawthorns as a cheap, proven, and instant impact signing.

4

Cameron Archer

Stewart is not the only Saints centre-forward who could be a target for the Baggies, as West Brom News recently noted that Cameron Archer has emerged as a possible signing for the club.

The 24-year-old marksman has only scored nine goals in 76 matches for Southampton in all competitions in the past two seasons, but he previously caught the eye with 11 goals in 20 matches on loan at Middlesbrough in the 2022/23 Championship season.

It would be a risky addition to the squad because of his struggles in recent seasons, but his form for Boro does suggest that there is a gem waiting to be unearthed.

3

Dom Ballard

Another possible option for the Baggies is Leyton Orient centre-forward Dom Ballard, ironically a former Southampton striker, because he has recently been the subject of interest from Bristol City.

Football League World recently reported that a fee of £5m could be enough to tempt the League One side into cashing in on the 21-year-old talent, who scored 23 goals in 30 league games last term.

Unlike Archer and Stewart, Ballard is unproven in the Championship and the club would have to have faith that he has the ability to make the step up from League One to the Championship.

Due to the finances and risk involved in a move for the English striker, this may not be the most feasible option for West Brom on this list, as exciting as it could be.

2

Ben Brereton Diaz

One player who has been linked with a move to The Hawthorns is Chile international Ben Brereton Diaz, who spent last season on loan at Derby County in the Championship.

The constant links to Southampton are purely a coincidence, but the versatile attacker looks like he could be an ideal replacement for Grant, as another forward who can play on either flank or through the middle as a striker.

Brereton Diaz scored more goals and provided more assists than the former Baggies attacker did in the Championship last season, too, which suggests that he would improve James Morrison’s side.

However, it remains to be seen how much Southampton are set to demand for the forward, who they paid £7m to Villarreal for, or if they would be willing to send him back out on loan.

1

Mathias Kvistgaarden

Looking away from past-and-present Southampton players, Norwich City marksman Mathias Kvistgaarden could be an interesting option to explore.

The Canaries have Jovon Makama and Mohamed Toure ahead of the Dane, with £8m-rated striker Ante Crnac set to return from an ACL injury, and that could leave him looking for game time elsewhere.

Signed from Brondby for £6.9m last summer, it would be worth an enquiry to see if they would be willing to send him out on loan to rebuild his value if he is not going to be a frontline option for Philippe Clement.

Kvistgaarden, who scored at The Hawthorns in January, scored six goals from 5.14 xG in 12 starts for Norwich in the Championship last term, and could be a shrewd addition to West Brom’s squad if they can convince their rivals to part ways with him.