Wagner close to becoming new West Brom boss ahead of Wilder
Former Huddersfield Town boss David Wagner is set to become the new West Brom manager, according to reports.
The Baggies have been without a manager since they parted ways with Sam Allardyce. The Englishman replaced Slaven Bilic during the 2020/21 season.
Allardyce had never been relegated as a manager before this term, but he was unable to keep West Brom in the Premier League.
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West Brom ended up finishing 19th in the top flight. They ended the season on just 26 points as they were 13 points adrift of safety.
Allardyce left the club at the end of the season as he suggested that the Baggies need a manager who will be there long term.
Chris Wilder has been heavily linked with the vacant job. He left Sheffield United during the 2020/21 season after a sequence of disagreements with the club’s board.
BBC Sport have reported that Wilder was well-liked by West Brom. But their owner Guochuan Lai was against appointing the 53-year-old.
Instead, they are set to appoint Wagner. He was Huddersfield Town manager between 2015 and 2019.
Wagner guided the Terriers to the Premier League via the Championship play-off final in 2016/17. They then defied expectations to stay up in 2017/18.
The German took over at Schalke in July 2019, but he was sacked in September 2020 after winning just 12 of his 40 games in charge.
“Absolutely brilliant. A very technical player and I think it would be a great acquisition that I can see happening.
“You would think he would be very much available due to the fact West Brom are in the Championship now.
“Nobody wants to be likened to somebody else. You want to be your own man. Pablo has had a fantastic career but he is getting to an age where the legs are affected a wee bit.
“That can be very visible at times. It is right you get a new pretender. A new kid on the block continuing the marvellous work he has done. Also, adding to Leeds’ terrific entertainment levels.”