West Bromwich Albion are preparing for a crucial rebuilding phase ahead of the 2026/27 season after enduring a deeply disappointing Championship campaign that saw them spend much of the year fighting to avoid relegation. Under the guidance of James Morrison, the Baggies ultimately managed to preserve their Championship status, but the club now faces significant pressure to transform a struggling squad into one capable of competing for promotion back to the Premier League.
The previous season exposed major weaknesses within the squad, and supporters will expect the club’s hierarchy to be aggressive and intelligent in the transfer market this summer. West Brom’s recent history shows how transformative the right signing can be. Their most successful recruitment move in recent memory came in 2019 when they secured the services of Matheus Pereira on loan from Sporting CP.
Pereira quickly became one of the Championship’s standout players. During the 2019/20 campaign, the Brazilian playmaker produced eight goals and 16 assists, becoming the creative heartbeat of Slaven Bilic’s side as West Brom earned promotion to the Premier League. His influence was so significant that the club moved to sign him permanently before beginning their top-flight campaign.
However, since Pereira eventually departed following West Brom’s relegation from the Premier League, the club has struggled to rediscover that same quality and consistency. Over the last five seasons, the Baggies have repeatedly fallen short in their attempts to return to the top division, managing only a single play-off appearance during that period. Many of their transfer dealings have failed to provide the spark needed to elevate the team into genuine promotion contenders.
Now, though, West Brom appear to be targeting a player who could potentially become their most impactful signing since Pereira himself. According to reports from the Sunderland Echo, the club is among several Championship sides interested in signing goalkeeper Anthony Patterson during the upcoming summer transfer window.
West Brom are not alone in monitoring the situation. Coventry City, Hull City, Derby County, and Millwall — where Patterson has been spending time on loan — are also believed to be keeping close tabs on the goalkeeper’s future. Reports suggest that Sunderland AFC would be willing to sell Patterson for a fee in the region of £8 million, a figure that West Brom may consider worthwhile given the player’s quality and experience.
Millwall’s recent play-off elimination at the hands of Hull could potentially improve West Brom’s chances of securing Patterson’s signature, especially if the goalkeeper becomes interested in joining a club aiming to build a stronger promotion challenge next season.
There are several reasons why Patterson is viewed as a player capable of transforming West Brom’s fortunes. One of the club’s biggest problems this season has been inconsistency in goalkeeping performances. Current goalkeeper Max O’Leary struggled at times, making multiple costly mistakes across his Championship appearances, including an error during his debut against Derby County.
By comparison, Patterson’s performances for Millwall have been far more reliable and impressive. Statistical comparisons between the two goalkeepers highlight Patterson’s superiority in several key areas. He recorded a higher save percentage, averaged more saves per game, and significantly outperformed O’Leary in goals prevented — a metric that measures how many goals a goalkeeper stops compared to the quality of chances faced. Importantly, Patterson also avoided making the kinds of costly errors that directly lead to opposition shots or goals.
Since arriving at Millwall on loan in January, Patterson has played a major role in helping the club remain competitive near the top end of the Championship table. His outstanding shot-stopping ability was especially evident during the play-offs, where he produced a clean sheet in the semi-final first leg against Hull City. Millwall narrowly missed out on automatic promotion, finishing just one point behind the required position, and Patterson’s contributions were widely viewed as crucial to that strong finish.
Beyond his current form, Patterson also brings valuable experience in high-pressure promotion races. He was part of the Sunderland side that achieved promotion through the play-offs and registered 14 clean sheets during the 2024/25 campaign under manager Regis Le Bris. Earlier in his career, he also played a major role in Sunderland’s successful 2022/23 campaign under Tony Mowbray, once again keeping 14 clean sheets as the club reached the Championship play-offs before losing to Luton Town in the semi-finals.
At 26 years old, Patterson already possesses extensive experience competing at the top end of the Championship — something that few goalkeepers in the division can match. His composure, reliability, and proven shot-stopping quality make him an extremely attractive option for a West Brom side desperate to improve defensively and establish a stronger platform for promotion.
If West Brom succeed in bringing Patterson to The Hawthorns this summer, the signing could represent far more than a routine squad addition. Much like Pereira’s arrival in 2019, Patterson could become a genuine difference-maker capable of transforming the team’s fortunes and helping propel the Baggies back into Premier League contention.
