Birmingham City, Wrexham and West Brom fight to sign ‘excellent’ free agent Ryan Mason loved at Spurs

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The Championship trio are continuing their transfer business despite the window deadline passing.

Despite the summer transfer window deadline day passing, Championship clubs are still able to sign free agents throughout the season.

Blackburn Rovers have entered the free agent market after targeting centre-back Craig Dawson, and three free agents could aid Sheffield Wednesday after their financial battles over the summer.

The Championship trio comprising Birmingham City, Wrexham and West Brom all enjoyed impressive windows, namely the two newly promoted clubs.

Now, those three clubs are reportedly the “favourites” to sign one of the most high-profile free agents on the market.

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Birmingham City, Wrexham and West Brom in race to sign Dele Alli

Given the eye-catching expenditure of both American-backed Blues and Wrexham, the satisfaction with their squads will never cease.

Therefore, reports have emerged that Birmingham, Wrexham and West Brom are in the race to sign free agent Dele Alli after his exit from Italian outfit Como.

The Daily Mail state that “Birmingham City, Wrexham, and West Brom have emerged as the favourites” to sign Alli after the midfielder mutually agreed to terminate his 18-month Como contract less than eight months in.

Alli suffered a short and disastrous stint at the Serie A side after signing in January, with his only outing for Cesc Fabregas’ side coming against AC Milan, during a 2-1 defeat in which he was sent off after only eight minutes on the field as a substitute.

Swansea City were linked with a move for Alli earlier this month, and although he has the Spurs connection with Swans co-owner Luka Modric, the move has failed to materialise.

Alli remains one of the top five free agents that Championship clubs should target, but the glaring caveat hanging over the Englishman’s career is his stark downturn in form since his days at Tottenham.

Could it be his former Spurs coach and current Baggies boss, Mason, who holds the key to reviving 29-year-old Alli’s dwindling career?

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What West Brom boss Ryan Mason thinks of Dele Alli after Spurs time

As EFL Analysis exclusively revealed after he arrived at the Hawthorns this summer, Mason wants to use his Spurs “advantage” at West Brom regarding transfers.

Unfortunately for the Baggies boss, West Brom missed out on signing Mikey Moore with his loan move to Rangers, and now Mason is in the frame to sign another attacking talent he knows very well from his time at Tottenham.

Following his breakout season at MK Dons, Alli’s debut campaign for Spurs came in Mason’s final season for the club, but the now-Baggies boss took Alli under his wing during his spell in interim charge of Spurs.

As quoted by TNT Sports, Mason said of Alli in 2021: “For me, Dele was excellent. I don’t really like singling out players but it’s hard not to.

“He ran, he pressed, he created opportunities. I’m sure he’s disappointed he didn’t get a goal himself but it was an excellent No 10 performance so I’m really pleased.”

Baggies starlet Isaac Price shone against Germany in the international break, and EFL Analysis recently revealed that West Brom face a battle to keep Price in January with Premier League clubs circling for the attacking midfielder.

Although Mason would be reluctant to see the in-form talent depart, Alli could be a high-risk but high-reward succession plan in the event of a Premier League move for Price.