“It’s time to move on”: West Brom is pushed to select their summer players with ruthlessness.

With the end of the 2023-24 season closing in, we are gettin to the time period when clubs up and down the divisions start weighing up whether they should offer new contracts to players who see their deals expire in the summer.

For West Brom, there are several members of the first-team squad who face uncertain futures, with Erik Pieters among them.

Erik Pieters’ time at West Brom

The left-sided defender joined the Baggies last season as a free agent after leaving Burnley on a free transfer.

With Pieters signing outside of the summer window in 2023, it’s fair to say it wasn’t the sort of signing that attracted a lot of attention, and he was initially signed to provide cover in defence as Steve Bruce’s side struggled.

The change in management happened around six weeks after Pieters arrival, but he became a useful figure under Carlos Corberan, making 36 appearances in the previous campaign.

Whilst he is by no means a first-team regular, Pieters has continued to feature this season, as he’s played a part in 22 games as Albion push for the Premier League.

Erik Pieters’ West Brom contract situation

Yet, it remains to be seen whether the Dutch defender will extend his stay at The Hawthorns into a third season, as the one-year deal he agreed last summer has just a few months to run.

From Albion’s perspective, they’re likely to wait until the season has finished before making a decision on any player, as from a financial and football perspective, things change if they are a Premier League side.

But, speaking to FLW, Albion fan pundit Matt explained that this summer would be the right time for Pieters to leave.

“Given the club’s ambitions, and that we could be in the Premier League next year, I think it’s time to move on from him.

“That’s not to say he’s done badly, having come in on a low wage, almost a panic signing to add depth, he’s come in and done a job, but there are some better young players at the club who could come into the team.

“He has done himself no shame, well done Erik, but it’s time to say thank you and farewell. At the age of 35, he’s not the most mobile, so you’d probably be in trouble playing Pieters in the Championship next season.”