---
title: "West Brom: Daryl Dike an ‘obvious target’"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/west-brom-daryl-dike-an-obvious-target/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "David Comerford"
section: "Transfer Rumours"
published: "2021-12-18T18:35:06Z"
modified: "2021-12-18T18:35:06Z"
---

# West Brom: Daryl Dike an ‘obvious target’

**West Bromwich Albion correspondent Steve Madeley has [named Daryl Dike](https://theathletic.com/3020107/2021/12/16/lai-landing-in-uk-is-a-positive-start-for-west-brom-but-there-are-still-many-questions-to-answer/) as a potential January transfer target for The Baggies.**

### The lowdown

West Brom, who were relegated from the Premier League last season, are pushing for promotion at the first opportunity and currently find themselves in the playoff spots.

They did bring in reinforcements during the summer window, but [they were all](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/west-bromwich-albion/transfers/verein/984) either free transfers or loan signings.

Meanwhile, they banked [£18.97million](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/west-bromwich-albion/transfers/verein/984) from sales, with £16.2million Matheus Pereira the headline departure. It was the second most lucrative exit in West Brom history, [behind Salomon Rondon](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/west-bromwich-albion/rekordabgaenge/verein/984) in 2019.

Dike is a player with whom Ismael is certainly familiar, having been part of the Barnsley squad that reached last season’s playoff semifinals before returning to parent club Orlando in the United States.

### The latest

[The Athletic’](https://theathletic.com/3020107/2021/12/16/lai-landing-in-uk-is-a-positive-start-for-west-brom-but-there-are-still-many-questions-to-answer/)s Madeley ponders whether there is ‘any scope’ to furnish Valerien Ismael with a player he likes in January.

Dike stands out as an ‘obvious target’, particularly with the MLS season now finished.

But the problem is that the deal would involve ‘a hefty loan fee at the very least’.

### The verdict

West Brom could perhaps use some more firepower in January. Their tally of 30 goals in 23 matches is the lowest in the division’s top five and, after Karlan Grant, their [second top scorer](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/teams/west-bromwich-albion/top-scorers) is four-goal Irishman Callum Robinson.

Could Dike provide the answer? Yes, based on his Barnsley tally of [nine goals in 19 games](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/daryl-dike/leistungsdaten/spieler/638741), averaging one every 143 minutes.

The [£9million-rated](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/daryl-dike/leistungsdaten/spieler/638741) 21-year-old has been [billed](https://www.hitc.com/en-gb/2021/04/16/exclusive-emile-heskey-discusses-if-reported-17m-everton-target-is-the-new-lukaku/) as a ‘powerful lad who knows where the back of the net is’ by [PL 100 club member](https://www.premierleague.com/stats/top/players/goals?se=-1) Emile Heskey, while Ismael has hailed his goalscoring exploits as ‘[unbelievable](https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/sport/football/daryl-dikes-winning-goal-was-unbelievable-says-barnsley-fc-chief-valerien-ismael-after-birmingham-city-success-3157048)‘.

**In other news, [fans slammed this man’s performance at Oakwell](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/west-brom-news/west-bromwich-albion-player-ratings-jake-livermore-barnsley-latest-news-baggies/).**