It's the summer of the striker for West Bromwich Albion, with new permanent boss James Morrison overseeing a real overhaul in that department already.

Daryl Dike has finally flown the nest after an injury-hit time at the Hawthorns, while Karlan Grant has opted to join Charlton Athletic on a free transfer, despite being offered a new deal by the Baggies.

The same is true of Josh Maja, with the one-time Sunderland man not expected to return this summer, a fact that has seen Morrison trade experience for youth, with Barney Stewart and Jimmy Jay-Morgan now in the building.

By all accounts, the Championship side aren't done just yet either, with Southampton's Cameron Archer believed to be the primary target on the table.

Why Archer could be a success at West Brom

Considering the Englishman scored just four Championship goals last term, it's easy to see why there might be a fair few Baggies fans turning their nose up at the potential arrival of Archer this summer.

It's been a long while since the 24-year-old has been a prolific force in front of goal, scoring just six league goals across 2023/24 and 2024/25, albeit while having been operating in the Premier League at that stage.

And yet, if the one-time Aston Villa man can recapture the form he previously showcased at the likes of Middlesbrough and Preston North End, then Morrison could be onto a winner, having shown more than enough to be impressed by previously.

In 2022/23, for instance, he scored 11 goals in just 20 games while on loan at the Riverside, alongside registering a further six assists, looking like the complete forward in that brief, successful stint.

Prior to that, Archer had also scored seven in 20 Championship games at Deepdale, hailed by then-boss Ryan Lowe as a "Jermain Defoe-type" striker.

It hasn't quite panned out since that big billing, but there are no doubt reasons for that, with the player struggling to find a consistent home.

Indeed, he was sent out on three loans by Villa, prior to signing for Sheffield United in 2023. Archer was then re-signed by the Villans, before being immediately sold on again to the Saints.

Under the right coach and at the right club, there is a real player there somewhere, although that's not to say West Brom couldn't still sign an upgrade.

How West Brom could upgrade on Archer this summer

Regardless of whether Archer signs or not, one issue for Morrison might well be the lack of experience in his side next season, particularly at the top end of the pitch, with the likes of Maja, Grant and Jed Wallace having all moved on.

It would make sense then to target some proven Championship figures to help replace them, with Archer's former Southampton teammate, Ross Stewart, surely one option to consider.

It was noted earlier this summer that the Baggies would be wise to pursue the Scotland striker, following the expiry of his St Mary's contract, with there having not yet been any developments regarding his future, despite talk of a potential return to the south coast.

Considering no player at the Hawthorns even reached double figures for league goals last season, Stewart would surely represent the perfect addition, potentially an even greater fit than the aforementioned Archer.

Indeed, while, as noted, Archer only scored four Championship goals in 2025/26, his experienced colleague earned his place in Steve Clarke's World Cup squad after netting nine times for the Saints.

Injury did inhibit his progress, yet it is worth noting that the 29-year-old reached that tally from only 12 starts, scoring at a rate of one goal every 123 minutes, while boasting a 28% goal conversion rate.

For context, Archer did only start 11 games himself last term, yet his scoring rate stood at just one every 260 minutes, while recording a goal conversion of just 13%.

While Stewart did only start four league goals across 2023/24 and 2024/25 due to injury, he had again enjoyed a real Championship purple patch with Sunderland in 2022/23, netting ten times in just 11 starts.

That had come after he'd helped fire the Black Cats to promotion the year prior, as the current free agent scored 26 goals in 49 League One games.

Of course, that's reaching back a long way now, with Stewart's fitness concerns likely to be a nagging issue for the Baggies, yet considering the chance is there for a free transfer, those doubts should well be eased.

As 2026 showcased, Stewart has proven he can be an even more prolific presence than Archer when fit and firing.