da betcris： Managerial sacking season is now in full flow up and down the country, with four notable sackings, including that of West Bromwich Albion’s former boss Ryan Mason, already taking place in the New Year.

da supremo： Enzo Maresca, Ruben Amorim, and Wilfried Nancy have all left their respective positions, managing in England and Scotland, with Mason swiftly following suit when he was sacked after Albion’s devastating 2-1 loss on the road at Leicester City.

With 13 Championship losses already next to the Baggies’ name this season, it did feel as if Mason’s sacking was inevitable, with West Brom midfielder Jayson Molumby calling out their away record as “pretty dreadful” when succumbing to ten straight league defeats, while playing away from the comforts of the Hawthorns.

Where do West Brom go from here?

Well, it appears that they may have already found their chosen candidate, as talks are underway to replace Mason promptly…

West Brom in talks to appoint Mason replacement

There is still a season to finish in the West Midlands, with West Brom not out of the promotion equation just yet, as they sit ten points off the top six in the unpredictable league.

Michael Carrick had been tipped early on to come in as Mason’s successor, but he looks to be holding out for a role at Manchester United, as a caretaker manager is set to be announced at Old Trafford.

That won’t stop the Baggies in their efforts to appoint a Carrick-style figure, however, as former Red Devils coach Eric Ramsay appears to be their chosen man, if new reports are to be believed.

Indeed, Sky Sports News reported on Thursday that the faltering Championship side were in talks over a deal for the current Minnesota United head coach to swap the MLS for a chance in the EFL’s elite division, having previously had the former Wales assistant manager on their radar before Mason was handed the reins.

Since then, talkSPORT reporter Alex Crook has reported at around 4pm on Thursday that West Brom are in fact “closing in” on the appointment of Ramsay.

Why Ramsay is very similar to Carrick

Ideally, West Brom would like their next manager to have more EFL credentials than Ramsay, with the heavily tipped 33-year-old only taking charge of games as a first-team manager in the MLS to date.

But everyone has to start somewhere, with Carrick going on to excel as Middlesbrough boss when first allowed to impress in the Championship after leaving the protected coaching circles behind at the Theatre of Dreams.

The now-unemployed manager would come out of the shadows of the Red Devils in some style, after being lauded as an “excellent” coach who works “tirelessly” behind the scenes at United by ex-sporting director John Murtough, with a stunning 57 Championship wins under his belt for Boro, before being given the axe in the summer of 2025.

Ramsay will aim to tread down the same path as Carrick as he attempts to cut his teeth at the Hawthorns, with the Shrewsbury-born head coach also held in high esteem in Manchester once upon a time, labelled as a “very talented” coach by hit-and-miss former boss Erik ten Hag.

Ramsay’s record with Minnesota

Games

81

Wins

38

Draws

16

Losses

27

Goals scored

157

Goals conceded

133

Points accumulated

130

Sourced by Transfermarkt

Much like Carrick, too, Ramsay has managed to forge his own identity, away from merely being known as a backroom entity in Manchester, with a promising 38 wins overseen by the 33-year-old in charge of Minnesota.

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Known for favouring a 5-4-1 formation, one of those victories even saw Ramsay get the better of a Lionel Messi-led Inter Miami side 4-1, with the Baggies-linked head coach now perhaps ready for that next step up to the Championship, having also been lauded as “one of the best young coaches” about today by ex-Wales manager Rob Page.

Ramsay will aim to go one better than Carrick, however, in attempting to seal a promotion to the Premier League, with the highly respected manager unfortunately falling short of moving Boro back to the big time, when losing out in the playoffs during his debut season in charge.

He has succeeded against all the odds in the MLS as a rookie boss learning the ropes, as Ramsay now prepares to take his managerial career to that next level, by swapping America for England.

Carrick upgrade: West Brom already made contact over hiring 4-2-3-1 manager

West Bromwich Albion could soon bring in this replacement for Ryan Mason who is an upgrade on Michael Carrick.

3 ByKelan Sarson