West Bromwich Albion midfielder Taylor Gardner-Hickman could leave the club for a small fee at the end of the season despite Carlos Corberan’s wishes to keep the player at the Hawthorns.
Despite making 29 appearances in the Championship last season, the 21-year-old was sent out on loan to fellow second-tier side Bristol City for the remainder of the campaign, a deal which included an option to buy clause.
This very clause has caused uncertainty to creep in with regard to Gardner-Hickman’s future in the West Midlands and journalist Joe Chapman has provided an update on Corberan’s future plans for the Englishman.
Chapman has confirmed that Corberan held talks with the youngster and is set to do the same with Cardiff City loanee Karlan Grant. However, replying to a comment on Twitter/X, the Birmingham Live journalist claimed that there is a chance Bristol City could activate Gardner-Hickman’s option to buy clause.
In a recent press conference, the Spanish coach revealed that West Brom are closely watching the progress of Gardner-Hickman, Grant and all other players out on loan [quotes via Birmingham Live]:
“Right now, the players in the Championship, Grant and [Taylor] Gardner-Hickman, they are playing regularly and that’s very positive news for us, it’s positive for us as a club and in the moments that I can find time to dedicate to look at them in more detail, I share it with the staff because we like to see everything that they are doing.”
It has also been reported over the past few days that West Bromwich Albion could lose Tom Fellows this winter, with both Southampton and Leicester City circling the midfielder.
Gardner-Hickman has had an excellent season with Bristol City so far despite the club’s issues on the pitch. Losing the young player would be a loss to Corberan’s squad next season, particularly if the Baggies are not promoted to the Premier League.
Furthermore, it seems nonsensical that West Brom would include such a minuscule option-to-buy clause in TGH’s contract given it was always likely that the Robins would look to make the deal permanent.
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