West Brom may soon need to ditch a star who earns more than Maja & Bartley.
West Bromwich Albion fans are strapped in for another promotion-chasing season at the Hawthorns, as the well-respected Carlos Corberan aims to steer the Baggies to another finish near the top of the Championship table.
The West Midlands side clinched a playoff spot last season, but would ultimately come unstuck at the semi-final stage to eventual winners Southampton, with the aim now to avenge this disappointment and finally return to the Premier League at the end of this long and gruelling campaign.
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It will be a tough ask, with the Baggies showing some chinks in their armour already with two Championship losses next to their name, but the passionate Spaniard on the sidelines will know he can rely on the likes of Kyle Bartley and Josh Maja to help his team in their ongoing promotion push.
Bartley and Maja’s importance to West Brom
Whilst many of the West Brom old guard departed the club this summer for pastures new, Kyle Bartley stuck by his Championship employers and remains one of the first names on his manager’s team sheet for good reason.
Yet to miss a minute of action this season so far, the former Arsenal youth product turned accomplished second-tier defender is crucial to the dogged Baggies back four, having picked up five clean sheets from nine league games played as a titan-like presence.
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Even when West Brom aren’t at the races, the determined 33-year-old still shines, with an impressive eight duels won away at Sheffield Wednesday as his team fell to a surprise 3-2 defeat.
Whilst Bartley tries to make Corberan’s men as staunch as possible defensively, Josh Maja has the opposite to do in attack, in trying to be the bright spark that clinches wins with goals finding the back of the net.
Josh Maja scores goals. âš½ï¸ðŸŽ¯ #EFL | @WBA pic.twitter.com/WP3uSI8yqZ — Sky Bet Championship (@SkyBetChamp) September 28, 2024
He has been just that for the West Midlands side so far this season, starting as he meant to go on with a hat-trick on the opening day against Queens Park Rangers, with a ridiculous seven strikes then picked up from seven before firing some unexpected blanks against Middlesbrough.
Both players will be key for Corberan’s men going forward as they strive to go one better than last season and shoot up to the Premier League, but find that their wages are actually lesser than one Baggies player currently, who has struggled for game-time in contrast.
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Diangana’s wage at West Brom
According to Capology, West Brom winger Grady Diangana rakes in a hefty £20.3k-per-week wage for the 2024/25 campaign, which sees him earn more than both Bartley and Maja consequently.
The centre-back and the striker only take home a lesser £15k-per-week and £17k-per-week respectively, when weighed up next to Diangana’s healthier pay packet, despite being picked week in week out by their manager.
