James Morrison, the manager of West Brom, has stated that the team is still looking for a typical winger before the summer transfer window ends. Because of the players he has available, Morrison’s current narrow 4-2-2-2 system is imposed.

Morrison was commenting prior to his team’s 2026–27 Championship opening against Norwich City, as reported by the Express & Star. The Baggies will have a difficult assignment at Carrow Road to get their first points.

Following their trip to East Anglia, Albion will welcome Burnley at The Hawthorns the following weekend before returning to the road at the end of August to play Middlesbrough, who are expected to be promotion hopefuls, at Riverside Stadium.

Therefore, it could be a tough start for the Baggies, but patience must be provided to Morrison as he attempts to push the team back into promotion contention following on from their relegation battle last term.

Morrison will provide a transfer update and indicate which position the recruitment team needs to strengthen in order for Albion to accomplish this goal before the September 1st deadline.

West Brom’s summer business so far and winger crisis

Rabby Nzingoula, a 20-year-old French midfielder from Ligue 1 team Strasbourg, was the most recent addition to the Black Country team this summer. It was exclusively revealed here at FLW that the Baggies were interested in this player.

Additional additions include forwards Barney Stewart and Jimmy-Jay Morgan, midfielder Felix Horn Myhre, defenders Nolan Galves, Carter Pinnington, and Conor Townsend, all of whom more than contributed during preseason play and their thrilling Carabao Cup first-round victory last week.

The summer transfer business at West Brom

Arrivals

Loan/Permanent

Stewart, Barney

Permanent

Pinnington, Carter

Permanent

Morgan Jimmy-Jay

Permanent

Nolan Galves

Permanent

Conor Townsend

Permanent

Matt Ingram

Permanent

Rabby Nzingoula

Permanent

But an area Albion have failed to strengthen so far is out wide. It’s been well-documented throughout the summer about the Baggies’ lack of wide options due to the departures of Jed Wallace and Karlan Grant.

It’s left Mikey Johnston as their only recognised winger after Ollie Bostock failed to make the matchday squad for last week’s victory over Rotherham United.

It’s prompted Morrison to adopt a narrower 4-2-2-2 formation, which, against the Millers, involved Isaac Price and Harry Whitwell playing just behind the front two of Jimmy-Jay Morgan and Aune Heggebo, whilst the majority of the width was provided by the flying wing-backs in Nolan Galves and Callum Styles.

James Morrison offers West Brom transfer update and new formation admission

According to Lewis Cox, a West Brom writer for the Express & Star, Baggies manager James Morrison has stated he is still searching for a traditional winger to join the team before the summer transfer window closes.

He also disputed accusations he wants to go forward this season with a tighter structure, instead acknowledging that he has been forced into the change due to the personnel he currently possesses.

When asked whether he wanted a traditional winger, Morrison replied: “Yes – there is no big answer, just yes.

He added: “Every other team now, there is the beauty of loads of information handed to you.

“Teams are well-coached, so again, we have to be flexible. That’s what I want.

“Wingers are what I want.” Nothing excites you more than watching a skilled winger play one-on-one. We’ll observe the outcome.

Then, Morrison responded, “No, that’s not the case,” when asked if he preferred to set up in a narrow style.

“We’re doing and coaching it as best we can, but it’s just a system that we’ve had to rely on with personnel.”

James Morrison requests that West Brom provide

It’s not ideal that the manager doesn’t have what he wants in his first-team squad given that James Morrison has spoken out against the current situation at West Brom. As a result, he has had to adapt and find a system that works with the players at his disposal.

Even if he did play out wide for players like Isaac Price and Jayson Molumby towards the end of the previous season, Morrison obviously doesn’t want to try it again, and he’s effectively pleading with the Albion management for more help.

Morrison needs all the resources he needs to be successful, thus the recruitment team must find players who fit Morrison’s style of play and possess the speed, physicality, and technical skills required to succeed in the Championship.

The Baggies need a dangerous right-sided winger who can complement Mikey Johnston once he completely recovers from his fractured ankle injury, so it will be interesting to see if Morrison gets his man.