This article is part of Football FanCast's Opinion series, which provides analysis, insight and opinion on any issue within the beautiful game, from Paul Pogba's haircuts to League Two relegation battles...

West Brom's academy.

One of the best in the country, no doubt.

Albion have been reaping the rewards from it in recent times with both Nathan Ferguson and Kyle Edwards featuring under Slaven Bilic this term.

But the Baggies hierarchy will be surely regretting the decision to let Marcus Forss leave back in 2017.

Watch West Bromwich Albion Live Streams With StreamFootball.tv Below

Although, this is nothing new to those up in the west Midlands.

Only this summer saw two of their brightest prospects, Louie Barry and Morgan Rogers, depart the club on their own accord to join Barcelona and Manchester City, respectively.

Yes, they could have been offered contracts much earlier to secure their futures at the Hawthorns, but ultimately it was the players' decisions.

Forss' exit was different. He was released following the end of his scholarship contract.

The 20-year-old subsequently joined Championship rivals Brentford, in what appears to be in similar vein to Romaine Sawyers all those years ago, just that the club have luckily got their hands on him again.

The Finland U21 international won the B team's Player of the Year award in the summer of 2018 before going on to play for the senior side.

After bagging one goal in three appearances for the Bees this season, Forss signed a four-year contract before being sent on loan to AFC Wimbledon.

He's since continued his goalscoring form, netting seven times in eight League One matches, resulting in reports linking him with a move to the Premier League as West Ham, Brighton & Hove Albion, Southampton and Watford appear to be all keen on securing his signature, per TEAMtalk.

It would be quite ironic if a player who was rejected by the decision-makers at the Baggies, were to make it to the promised land before the club itself did, especially via a detour to the third tier.

Albion have clearly missed out on a player with potential.

At a time where strikers have found it hard to find the net, they could maybe have done with his emerging ability.

Charlie Austin only has one goal from ten appearances, Kenneth Zohore has only bagged two penalties while Hal Robson-Kanu appears to be the super-sub having netted two off the bench this campaign.

Not only does Slaven Bilic desperately need a goalscoring striker, but they'll also miss out on any potential fee considering he was released from the club rather than sold.

Looks like another one has slipped through West Brom's fingers.