John Percy of The Telegraph has reported that Barnsley boss Valerian Ismael is in talks to become West Bromwich Albion manager:
#wba have moved for Valérien Ismaël and want him as their new head coach. Talks ongoing with #BarnsleyFC. West Brom are prepared to pay the £2m buyout
— John Percy (@JPercyTelegraph) June 18, 2021
Valerian Ismael in Talks Over West Bromwich Albion Role
Barnsley Allow Talks
The Telegraph and The Athletic have both reported that the midlands club are willing to meet the £2 million release cause that would allow Ismael to leave Barnsley and move to the Hawthornes.
West Brom have already had talks with former Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder and former Huddersfield Town manager David Wagner who decided to take the managers job at Swiss side Young Boys. Neither options were appointed with Ismael now emerging as favourite for the job.
Sky Sports also reported in May that Steve cooper of Swansea City and Frank Lampard had also been under consideration for the role to replace Sam Allardyce who left at the end of the 2020/21 Premier League season following the relegation to the Championship.
Positive First Season for Ismael
Ismael has managed Wolfsburg and, now at Barnsley, has had a positive impact in his first season in charge at Oakwell- leading the South Yorkshire club to the play-offs where they eventually lost out to Swansea City. Other clubs that he has managed include Apollon Smyrnis in Greece and Austrian side LASK.
The fifth place finish was well above expectations at Barnsley and it thrust him into the limelight. He is manager that likes to work with young players and play a direct and very energetic style of football.
Ismael favours a 3-4-3 formation which helped in his job at Barnsley as the team had been used that formation under previous manager Gerhard Struber who left the club to join the New York Red Bulls in the MLS.
West Brom will now be hoping that talks progress well and that he can take the Baggies one step further than Barnsley and back to the Premier League at the first attempt.
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