West Bromwich Albion are preparing for life back in the Championship, with the first task this summer finding a replacement for Sam Allardyce.

The Baggies finished 19th in the Premier League this season, falling back into the Championship a year on from winning automatic promotion.

With Sam Allardyce leaving the Hawthorns, the task now is to find a new manager, with a current Championship boss attracting the Baggies' interest...

What do we know so far?

According to The Sun, Chris Wilder is a target for West Brom, but if he does not fancy taking the job, they could make a move for Barnsley's Valerien Ismael.

Ismael, who is also a contender to replace Roy Hodgson at Crystal Palace, has been identified as an alternative for Wilder, who may not have the appetite to take a Championship job.

Is it likely to happen?

First and foremost, what a job Ismael has done at Barnsley this season. Nobody expected them to finish in the play-offs when he took over, but he has got such a fine tune out of his players.

It remains to be seen whether the Tykes can replicate this season in 2021/22, and there is certainly scope for them to build on an incredible campaign.

But West Brom are likely to be favourites for promotion as they prepare for life back in the second tier.

There is a talented squad on paper at the Hawthorns, and adding parachute payments into the mix, they could be well backed this summer.

If Albion can sell their project and ambition to Ismael, then it would be hard for the Frenchman to turn them down, in my opinion.

But similarly to Wilder's situation, Ismael may well hang on and see if Palace come knocking, or another Premier League job for that matter.