[ad_pod ]

This article is part of Football FanCast's The Chalkboard series, which provides a tactical insight into teams, players, managers, potential signings and more... 

West Brom are sitting pretty rosy in the Championship while the league takes the first international break of the season.

Slaven Bilic has guided his side to an unbeaten start which sees them sit in fourth position.

The Croatian has been able to fully implement his playing style thanks to his summer additions.

None of his key midfield options in the centre of the park have a pass success rate of below 85% - that's including Filip Krovinovic and Romaine Sawyers who are new arrivals.

He has also since added to his squad following a deadline day flurry of arrivals. Ali Al-Habsi has signed for the club on a free transfer, and he may well not be the only one.

The Sun have reported that Danny Simpson is training with the U23 squad as he is still yet to join a club following his release from the King Power stadium.

But where would the 32-year-old fit into the Croatian’s side?

On the Chalkboard

There are clearly some benefits to signing a player that has a Premier League title and over 200 appearances in the top-flight to his name, but whether they outweigh the negatives is of personal speculation.

The Baggies already have two promising options at right-back in Darnell Furlong, a £1.5m summer arrival from Queens Park Rangers and Nathan Ferguson, who was promoted to the senior side upon Bilic’s appointment this summer.

Both have held their own amongst what appears to be a competitive battle for the starting position.

The pair are averaging over 1.7 clearances per game, and a dribble each while the younger Ferguson has more tackles (1.8), more interceptions (1.2) and has won more aerial duels (2.2), per WhoScored, but that is only because he has started five matches over the 23-year-old’s two.

It is likely that Simpson would command excessive wages having earned £45k a week at Leicester and that’s not something you need to risk, especially as the 5 foot 9 defender could be the third choice if signed on.

Those wages could be saved for January where Bilic will know what he’s missing if the club are still on the fringes of leading the league or lurking around the playoffs.

With options already in Simpson's position, they should be more careful.

[ad_pod ]