West Bromwich Albion

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Today is the final chance of the season for your Championship team to do transfer business.

The window closes at 19:00 GMT, meaning teams - and fans - can avoid the usual late-night transfer scramble.

It has already been a busy window - for some teams anyway - but whether it turns out to be a day of transfer action or a pretty quiet one for your club, you will be able to keep across it all on BBC Sport.

Follow our live text coverage throughout the day here

Nick Mashiter
Football reporter

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Aston Villa's Samuel Iling Junior has cut short his loan at West Bromwich Albion to move to Pisa in Serie A.

The winger has spent the first half of the season at the Baggies in the Championship.

He scored once in 24 games but now moves to Pisa to help them in their relegation fight with the club second bottom of Serie A.

Iling Junior has previously played for Juventus and Bologna in Italy.

The Baggies - 21st and three points above the Championship relegation zone - have replaced him with Aston Villa team-mate Jamaldeen Jimoh-Aloba.

Preston were also keen to take the 19-year-old on loan but Jimoh-Aloba wants to help the Baggies' relegation fight and has opted to return to the club over North End, while Leicester City also enquired.

Attacker Jimoh-Aloba came through the academy at The Hawthorns before moving to Villa in 2023.

He made his Premier League debut last month and scored Villa's winner in the 3-2 comeback victory over Red Bull Salzburg in the Europa League last week.

Joshua Adu-Donkor
5 Live reporter

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Another bad day for West Brom and head coach Eric Ramsay.

The 3-0 loss at Portsmouth was Ramsay's third in his first four league games in charge.

Since arriving in early January, Ramsay has implemented a 3-4-3 formation, which was heavily exposed against Pompey so it may be time to go back to basics to achieve results in the coming weeks.

Ramsay needs to get the Baggies organised and playing with more attacking intent. Maybe a simple change back to a more familiar system could for at least now stop the rot before it is too late?

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West Bromwich Albion boss Eric Ramsay said his side failed to do the basics as they were convincingly beaten by Portsmouth.

"It was tough," Ramsay told BBC WM after the 3-0 loss. "We have to own the performance, take accountability and look inward as individuals and as a collective. And we have to get better.

"I am concerned we didn't handle what was an inevitable quick start - a team that really draws on the crowd. We set up in a way trying not to feed that momentum but we did the opposite and it affected the players and we need to deal with it better.

"There were some fundamentals missing for the first half that start to lead to the performance feeling short and that contributes to the levels of confidence.

"We have to address some of the basics in terms of competition of the second balls and that, as we regain possession, we are neat and tidy."

Nick Mashiter
Football reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Aston Villa are considering the immediate future of Jamaldeen Jimoh-Aloba after his European goalscoring heroics.

The 19-year-old scored his first senior goal to cap Villa's comeback from 2-0 down as they beat Red Bull Salzburg 3-2 in the Europa League on Thursday.

West Bromwich Albion are keen to take the attacker to The Hawthorns on loan but other clubs have now registered their interest.

Striker Ollie Watkins is being assessed and has had a scan on the hamstring injury which forced him off in the first half against Salzburg.

Boss Unai Emery is confident the initial scan has not given Villa "bad information" but Watkins' situation - and his European impact - could have a bearing on whether Jimoh-Aloba is allowed on loan before Monday's deadline.

Jimoh-Aloba came through the Baggies' academy and joined Villa from Albion in 2023 with new West Brom boss Eric Ramsay looking for reinforcements as they sit three points above the Championship relegation zone.

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There's a big game in the battle to avoid being dragged into the relegation zone as Portsmouth welcome West Bromwich Albion to Fratton Park on Saturday (15:00 GMT).

Pompey go into the game sitting 21st, one point above the drop-zone and one place and two points behind Albion.

Sunday's 1-1 draw in the South Coast Derby means John Mousinho's men have taken eight points from their past four home games and earned a 1-1 draw at The Hawthorns back in August.

Eric Ramsay picked up his first point as Baggies boss at the third time of asking last time out at Derby, which ended a run of 10 straight defeats on the road, however it was Albion's only point from their past four games.

• Portsmouth's last league win against West Brom came in December 2005 (1-0), failing to win their past five against the Baggies (D3 L2).

• West Brom have won each of their past three away games against Portsmouth in the second tier, including a 3-0 victory in this exact fixture last season, under Carlos Corberan.

• Portsmouth have only lost one of their past eight Championship games (W3 D4); this after losing three in a row and failing to score in all three beforehand (0-3 v Sheffield United, 0-1 v Bristol City and 0-1 v Swansea).

• West Brom have the most away defeats in the Championship this season (11) – only once have they suffered more defeats through their first 15 away games of a second tier campaign (12 in 1987/88).

• West Brom winger Mikey Johnston is the only player with 50+ chances created (51) and 50+ completed dribbles (52) in the Championship this season.

West Brom are keen on a loan deal for Aston Villa attacking midfielder Jamal Jimoh-Aloba, 19, who came through the Baggies academy, after an injury to Karlan Grant. The England Under-20 international scored Villa's winner in the Europa League game against RB Salzburg on Thursday. (WestBromXtra, external)

Want more transfer news from the EFL? Take a look at Friday's gossip column here.

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West Bromwich Albion forward Karlan Grant will be sidelined for up to three months after suffering a hamstring injury in the draw at Derby on Friday.

The 28-year-old limped off just eight minutes in at Pride Park and will undergo surgery in the coming days, although the Baggies remain hopeful he will return before the end of the season.

Grant has started the past 11 Championship games and appeared in each of the past 20, scoring three goals and operating on both flanks as well as through the middle.

BBC WM's Steve Hermon also understands Albion are working on a deal to bring Crystal Palace right-wing back Danny Imray in on loan before Monday's transfer deadline.

The 22-year-old made 13 appearances on loan at League One side Blackpool in the first half of the season, scoring twice and assisting two goals as well.

West Bromwich Albion are interested in Austin FC midfielder Joseph Rosales, 25, after the Honduran international previously worked under Eric Ramsay at MLS club Minnesota United. (Diez - in Spanish), external

For more transfer news and rumours, read Thursday's full gossip column here.

"It was as bad a night as I've ever had in football [the 5-0 loss to Norwich]. It was time for everyone to snap out of it, and wake up in a way, and realise the situation were are in.

"We can't hide behind the manager. We've got international players in our squad... we should know better."

West Bromwich Albion skipper Jed Wallace joins the 72+ podcast to discuss a difficult season for the Baggies and the challenges that new boss Eric Ramsay has already faced since his appointment in January.

Listen to the full episode and more on BBC Sounds.

Chris Hall
Fan writer

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Any managerial change is a risk.

However, to change manager, style and formation mid-season without the financial clout to overhaul the squad is certainly a gamble.

That's what Albion did earlier this month, parting ways with Ryan Mason and his 4-2-3-1 and appointing Eric Ramsay, who immediately transitioned the Baggies to a back three (or five, depending on your perspective) and a lower possession style.

The results were not immediate.

Albion lost their first two games under Ramsay, shipping eight goals in the process, but, with important players back and more time on the training pitch to implement his methods, the Welshman saw a much-improved display earn a point at Derby on Friday night.

So, will the gamble pay off for Albion?

Goalkeeper was a huge problem position for Ryan Mason.

Josh Griffiths and Joe Wildsmith let in around 12 more goals than the data says they should have.

The club have since moved to address this issue with the signing of Max O'Leary.

So, did Albion need a new goalkeeper more than they needed a new manager?

While issues between the sticks undoubtedly contributed to Albion's poor form under Mason, it wasn't the only factor.

The defence and midfield struggled with Mason asking them to play out from the back, and opponents had started to target the Baggies' deficiencies in this area with high presses resulting in goals against.

Then there were problems with game management, with the Baggies dropping a total of 10 points in the last 15 minutes of matches.

So, it was understandable that a change was made, but the question still remains: Does Ramsay have the players to play his way?

In defence and midfield, you could argue that many are better suited to his style.

Nat Philips and Chris Mepham had their confidence sapped by Mason's desire to play through them, but Ramsay's low-possession style asks less of them in this regard.

In midfield, it seems clear that Toby Collyer was supposed to be a huge part of Mason's build-up, but the Manchester United loanee's lack of fitness, coupled with intermittent absences for Jayson Molumby and Alex Mowatt, left Ousmane Diakite often fulfilling a role he did not seem technically quipped for.

But, on Friday night, the Malian was much more the destroyer-in-chief and looked far more at home. He also carries a substantial set-piece threat, which is a vital asset to a Ramsay team.

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But there are issues.

Callum Styles is something of a hybrid full-back who should make a good wing-back, but I imagine the Baggies' coaching staff wish they could clone him so they had another on the other side.

Right wing-back has been a real problem position so far. Isaac Price and Mikey Johnston have given it a go, but both looked like a fish out of water.

Jed Wallace has looked the most at home, but has only played the role with Albion chasing the game. Whether he can be as effective from 0-0 remains to be seen.

And star man Johnston is also a problem in this shape.

The Championship's top assister has been somewhat tamed by the new system, both in his outing at right wing-back and in the narrower attacking role in which he was deployed on Friday.

The best we've seen from the Irish attacker under Ramsay was dovetailing with Samuel Iling-Junior on the left-hand side in the dynamic second-half comeback against Middlesbrough.

Albion's regular left-sided attacker, Karlan Grant, went off with a worrying-looking injury against Derby, which we hope is not serious.

If he is set for a spell on the sidelines, perhaps that could be Johnston's role for the foreseeable future.

The dramatic draw at Derby offered promise, as did the overall performance, which was much improved from the cataclysmic display against Norwich.

But if Albion are to find the kind of consistent results and performances to pull themselves clear of danger, then Ramsay must find solutions to the aforementioned quandaries in a squad that was not designed for his system.

Listen to more from Chris Hall at the Albion Analysis, external

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West Bromwich Albion midfielder Jayson Molumby has said players have been "too nice" during their league struggles.

A run of eight defeats in their past 11 league matches has left the Baggies 19th in the Championship, just three points and as many places above the relegation zone.

Things came to a head after an embarrassing 5-0 home defeat by Norwich last Tuesday.

"There's probably been a few strong words with each other that I won't go into detail about, but it was very much needed," Molumby told BBC Radio WM.

"I think maybe we've been too nice with each other all along.

"It's getting to the stage now where we all need to look at ourselves, ask ourselves questions and then demand more from our team-mates.

"That's the starting point from now through to the end of the season."

Chris Mepham's stoppage-time equaliser earned Albion a draw at Derby on Friday and gave Eric Ramsay his first point in his third game in charge since replacing Ryan Mason.

But Molumby has refused to blame either head coach for the team's league position.

"The previous manager did all he could, he was so invested and worked really hard for us and the responsibility has been completely on us as players," he added.

"It's up to us players on the pitch and we need to do better."

The Albion squad has to quickly get used to a new playing style under Ramsay and do not have the luxury of time to adapt, with 17 league games of the season remaining.

"Since the new manager came in, he's got his way of playing and it's different to the way we were playing, so it's tough to get a hold of, but we need to keep working, keep practising and producing more on the pitch," said Molumby.

"We're not being as aggressive, we're trying to be more compact in the middle and we need to build from that."

West Bromwich Albion head coach Eric Ramsay spoke to BBC Radio WM following Friday's 1-1 draw with Derby County at Pride Park.

"We ultimately deserved what we got. I felt it was a controlled performance and the exact performance we needed tonight," he said.

"It wasn't spectacular, but it put right a lot of the wrongs from the previous game.

"We wanted control defensively and we restricted the opposition, were very strong in that department, and carried our own threat.

"I can see very clearly how this team will and needs to be competitive, and that was the start point."

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A new initiative highlighting the work of football club charities has been launched by the English Football League (EFL).

'Scan to Smile' will be rolled out in stadiums across the EFL from Friday until the end of January, with supporters invited to scan QR codes on posters displayed around grounds.

Each scan will unlock a short, uplifting story from a person whose life has been positively impacted by the support of their local club charity.

The subjects tackled include mental health support, combating loneliness, improving physical wellbeing, employability and confidence.

The EFL said it hoped the initiative would use "the reach and influence of football to offer fans a moment of positivity on matchday".

Trevor Birch, chief executive at the EFL, said: "Behind every club are people whose lives have been positively changed through the work and dedication of their local EFL club charity.

"This initiative gives supporters the chance to see that impact first-hand and reminds us that football truly is a force for good."