While incomings are the Hawthorns’ first priority, a surprise departure may be imminent as West Bromwich Albion get ready for their debut season under head coach James Morrison.

After a successful stint as interim manager, West Brom awarded former Scottish player Morrison with the top position in the Black Country. The 40-year-old wants to establish his dominance over the Baggies team.

Thus far, the Hawthorns have welcomed five new players: Barney Stewart, Jimmy-Jay Morgan, Conor Townsend, Carter Pinnington, and Nolan Galves. Felix Horn Myhre, a midfielder from Norway, is anticipated to sign a contract soon, making him their sixth summer addition.

Although the focus has been on bolstering the team with new players, a new exit may be imminent as one player’s turbulent tenure in the Midlands may be coming to an end.

Leyton Orient of League One is interested in Alfie Gilchrist, a defender for West Bromwich Albion.

According to Sky Sports’ Mark McAdam, West Brom defender Alfie Gilchrist is attracting interest from League One club Leyton Orient this summer, with the two teams in negotiations about a potential transfer for the 22-year-old.

Gilchrist progressed through Chelsea’s academy and made 17 first-team appearances, scoring once, before joining Sheffield United on loan for the 2024/25 season, where he appeared in 30 Championship games.

This enticed West Brom to part with the defender for an initial £1.2 million, which increased to £2 million last summer, with Gilchrist signing a five-year contract at the Hawthorns.

However, the Englishman played just over 600 league minutes in 13 appearances for West Brom last season, unable to get into the team under either Ryan Mason, Eric Ramsay, or Morrison, and may be on the move this summer.

Alfie Gilchrist has struggled to make an impact since his £2 million transfer to West Bromwich Albion from Chelsea last summer.

It is unclear whether Orient, who finished one place above the relegation zone in the third tier last season, are hoping to sign Gilchrist on loan, or if West Brom are already preparing to sell the defender.

However, given that he is under contract with the Baggies until at least the summer of 2030, a permanent exit after only one year appears doubtful, especially given that Orient are unlikely to stump up the finances to attract him to East London permanently.

With French right-back Galves joining from French second-tier side Rodez, Gilchrist’s place in the team appears to be untenable, with his exit becoming increasingly inevitable.

Why Gilchrist has struggled so much since his arrival in the Midlands can be attributed to a variety of factors, but with Morrison seemingly not including the former Chelsea defender in his plans, his immediate future appears to lie elsewhere, with a return to London with Leyton Orient looking like a viable option.

How have West Bromwich Albion supporters responded to Alfie Gilchrist’s prospective move to Leyton Orient?