West Bromwich Albion head coach James Morrison enters his first summer transfer window as a permanent senior manager with promotion firmly in mind.
Morrison must build a squad capable of challenging at the top of the Championship rather than scrapping against relegation as the club did previously.
Middlesbrough, who lost to Hull City in the play-off final at Wembley last month, are equally determined to strengthen for another promotion push next season.
Both clubs have already been linked with the same target, as West Brom and Boro are reportedly keen on Southampton forward Ben Brereton Diaz, currently on loan at Derby County.
However, the two clubs must also plan for potential departures, with key midfielders at both clubs attracting serious Premier League interest this summer.
Middlesbrough’s Championship Player of the Year Hayden Hackney has been linked with Spurs, Everton, and Nottingham Forest, carrying a reported £25m price tag on his head.
The 23-year-old attacking midfielder produced six goals and seven assists during the 2025/26 campaign and may not want to wait another year for top-flight football.
West Brom face a similar problem with Isaac Price, who racked up 15 combined goals and big chances created in the Championship this season and has attracted Premier League attention.
Everton, Crystal Palace, and Fulham have all been credited with interest in the Northern Ireland international, who may be available for a fee of around £17m.
With both clubs potentially losing their most creative central midfielders, finding a capable and affordable replacement has become a priority heading into the summer window.
Tottenham Hotspur attacking midfielder Alfie Devine, 21, spent the 2025/26 season on loan at Preston North End and emerged as one of the most exciting young talents in the EFL.
Devine ranked in the top three percent among Championship central midfielders for expected goals, actual goals, expected assists, and ranking in the top four percent for assists.
He scored eight goals and contributed six assists at Deepdale, numbers that compare extremely favourably with both Price and Hackney across the same division.
Devine produced four more assists than Price and two more goals than Hackney, demonstrating remarkable output from a player who cost next to nothing on loan.
Preston have activated their option to sign Devine permanently for around £5m, but they still need to convince the player himself to commit to the move.
Other Championship clubs are reportedly looking to hijack the deal, making this a transfer race that West Brom and Middlesbrough should be entering immediately.
At just 21 years old, Devine is younger than both Price and Hackney, giving him significant room to develop further and increase his market value considerably.
He was more productive at the top end of the Championship than either Price or Hackney, yet remains available at a fraction of their reported valuations.
For West Brom specifically, Devine could serve as a natural replacement should Price depart The Hawthorns for Premier League football this summer.
Both clubs should be making offers to the Spurs youngster immediately, as his goalscoring and creative output makes him the ideal like-for-like successor to either departing star.