West Bromwich Albion fans will be enjoying the peace of the off-season currently.

The 2025/26 campaign was another whirlwind campaign at the Hawthorns, and thankfully, the Baggies would secure their Championship status come the end of the rollercoaster ride, with James Morrison now officially tied down as their permanent manager.

The approaching 2026/27 term is one filled with optimism already, with Morrison hoping he can be the much-loved boss that turns the West Midlands side back into a promotion candidate.

He will want to be backed during the summer transfer window, to shape the team more to his liking, as a new striker continues to be linked with a switch to the Baggies.

Why West Brom are targeting a new striker

While Morrison did drastically turn around West Brom's fortunes after picking up the pieces from Eric Ramsay's horrendous stint in charge, he didn't exactly turn the Baggies into the most free-flowing watch during his interim spell.

When battling against the drop, this can be excused, as Morrison's men only gave up eight goals across 12 games to secure survival.

But, only scoring 12 goals across 12 games won't cut the mustard in a promotion race, if that's where West Brom are aspiring to be next season, meaning Aune Heggebo - who squandered 14 big chances last season - cannot be relied on as one of the main attacking threats.

With Josh Maja only scoring four goals, too, who is injury-prone, a brand new striker addition looks to be a priority this summer, with Preston North End attacker Lewis Dobbin potentially on their radar, according to reports, who has excelled as a striker in Lancashire, after a goal-shy loan stint at the Hawthorns previously.

There is another intriguing striker target on their shopping list, who could end up becoming the Baggies' second coming of Mikey Johnston...

West Brom could sign their new Mikey Johnston

West Brom's woes in front of goal were not helped by Johnston being consistently in and out of the treatment room last season.

The Irish winger was completely missing from West Brom's last 12 league games of the campaign, having registered a blistering two goals and nine assists before succumbing to injury.

With a further 17 goal contributions amassed in the West Midlands, it's clear that the 27-year-old is a firm fan favourite when fit, who has no regrets about leaving Celtic behind for a shot at glory in the EFL, having now garnered a reputation for scoring sumptuous solo strikes.

A certain Barney Stewart will be looking to become an instant fans' favourite if he were to walk away from Falkirk this summer to join Morrison's ranks. Indeed, late last week the Daily Record reported that West Brom have sent several offers to the Scottish club around the £1m mark, to try and tempt the lethal marksman to England.

He doesn't have quite a solo thunderbolt up his sleeve like Johnston, but the four-time Scotland U21 international looks ready to light up the English game - like the 27-year-old - based on his blistering goalscoring numbers last campaign, as he bagged a potent 18 goals from 33 appearances for both Falkirk and Dunfermline.

Much like Johnston, too, who arrived initially mid-way through the 2023/24 season and would go down as an inspired acquisition from north of the border, the expectation would be that Stewart would enter and finally gift the Baggies a lethal goalscoring hero who can propel Morrison and Co. to promotion, instead of having to rely on the likes of stale personnel such as Heggebo, Maja, and Daryl Dike to deliver the goods.

It could take Stewart a little bit of time to get used to his new surroundings, but if a deal were to get over the line around the £1m range, this might well be viewed as a steal down the line, like the £3m forked out on Johnston's services in 2024 is now seen as.