Rekeem Harper has an uncertain future at West Bromwich Albion as he has been short of playing time this season.

Birmingham Live reported that he will likely be loaned out to a Championship club before the January transfer window shuts if Sam Allardyce manages to bring in a replacement.

The 20-year-old has made only four appearances out of a possible 20 in this season, amassing 211 minutes of a possible 1,800 across the board. Harper has featured twice in the Premier League, been an unused substitute eight times and was left out of the matchday squad on seven occasions. [Transfermarkt]

He has found himself behind Conor Gallagher, Jake Livermore, Romain Sawyers and Filip Krovinovic in the pecking order and has represented the under-23s to stay match fit, so a loan move away from The Hawthorns may benefit all parties.

Harper has been praised in the past as a ‘nice calming influence’ by Baggies team-mate Livermore, but it doesn’t seem likely that he will feature much while Allardyce is in charge.

Birmingham Live claimed that six Championship clubs are interested in the 20-year-old, but he may not be granted a departure until a replacement is brought in. West Brom have Hamza Choudhury, Clement Grenier, Ben Pearson, Ozan Tufan and Olivier Ntcham on their radar, so movement should be made on Harper’s future in the coming fortnight.

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Harper needs playing time, but West Brom can’t afford to let him go yet as he is useful in a backup role.

If Allardyce can bring in a midfielder in the next two weeks, the 20-year-old may well be granted a temporary departure to a club where he will hopefully rediscover his best form and return to The Hawthorns with renewed vigour.