The previous summer transfer window was undoubtedly a very busy one for West Brom given how they appointed manager Valerien Ismael and brought in a number of new players such as Alex Mowatt, Kean Bryan and Adam Reach among others, with Matheus Pereira vacating the Midlands club.

With the January transfer window on the horizon, the Baggies will have to be busy in that one as well but in terms of securing a new deal for one of their current players rather than bringing in any new ones.

What's the news?

It has recently been reported by the Daily Mail that West Brom have now "virtually resigned to the prospect" of goalkeeper Sam Johnstone leaving the club on a free transfer at the end of the season when his current contract expires.

With this in mind, the club should be doing all they can during the January window to get the shot-stopper to put pen to paper on a new deal to keep him at the club beyond the summer.

Given how the 28-year-old, who stands at 6 foot 4 tall has played in all but one of West Brom's Championship games this season as well as all but one of their games in the Premier League last season, it's safe to say he is an important figure for the Baggies.

In addition to this, the English international, who has been described as a "wonderful professional" by pundit Micah Richards, has conceded the third-fewest goals per 90 minutes this term in the whole division at 0.81.

Taking all of this into account, securing Johnstone's future at the club should be West Brom's main priority in January as he could well be defining for Ismael in whether the Baggies first, achieve promotion, and secondly, then stay in the Premier League in 2022/23.

That said, if Johnstone doesn't sign a new contract and West Brom aren't able to secure promotion to the top-flight, it would certainly be the best move for the Englishman's career to join a club in the top-flight such as Southampton or West Ham United, who are reportedly interested in signing him.

That's especially considering his chances of becoming a regular figure in the England squad with the likes of Jordan Pickford, Nick Pope and Aaron Ramsdale all playing regularly with their Premier League clubs.

In other news: Ismael could unearth next Jake Livermore at West Brom in “tenacious” 19 y/o machine - opinion