West Brom starlet Taylor Gardner-Hickman exits on loan
Albion midfielder Taylor Gardner-Hickman has joined Bristol City on loan until the end of the season.
The Baggies had been willing to let the versatile 21-year-old leave The Hawthorns and a temporary move fits the bill for Robins boss Nigel Pearson, the former Albion assistant and caretaker boss.
Bristol City had looking to add some creativity to their central midfield ranks. They have an option to buy the midfielder for £1.3million plus a sell-on and future performance-related clauses.
Albion boss Carlos Corberan is still keen to enhance his squad in the remaining 10 days of the transfer window, but moves in could depend on efforts to move players out to lower the wage bill given a lack of finance via investment.
If players are moved out of The Hawthorns, it could allow Corberan more leeway to operate in the market. The head coach, working with head of recruitment Ian Pearce on additions, predicted a frenetic end to the window and hinted Albion could be served well for showing patience and not moving on deals, specifically loans, too early.
For academy graduate Gardner-Hickman it would be a first move away from The Hawthorns.
The Telford-born youngster’s best position has been debated under several managers. A central midfielder by trade, he has had spells at right-back and wing-back. Corberan this summer said he sees Gardner-Hickman as ‘number 10’ option, following his eye-catching double at Salford in pre-season.
He was selected from the off in the EFL Cup defeat to Stoke but has been reduced to just a handful of minutes in two substitute cameos in the Championship.
Corberan is understood to be eyeing extra quality in central midfield. Nathaniel Chalobah has also been linked away from The Hawthorns this summer.
