West Brom have option to recall attacker in January – report
West Brom have the option to recall Jonathan Leko from his loan spell at Charlton in the January transfer window, according to The Athletic.
The news outlet claims that the Baggies have made contingency plans amid the possibility that West Ham could call on Grady Diangana to return to the London Stadium in the New Year.
Leko is understood to be an option for the Baggies if they fail to sign a replacement for Diangana with the 20-year-old in impressive form at The Valley.
The England Under-20 international has scored four goals and supplied two assists in 14 appearances for Charlton since joining Lee Bowyer’s side on a season-long loan in the summer.
Bowyer has used Leko as a centre-forward and right-sided winger, but the DR Congo-born attacker does possess the ability to play on the left-wing, which is where Diangana has played this term for Slaven Bilic.
It would be very contradictory for West Brom fans to say that Leko should be recalled in the event that Diangana does go back to West Ham earlier than anticipated.
One of the main arguments for the Baggies to keep Diangana is that it would be more beneficial to his long-term development for him to see out the season at The Hawthorns – and the same goes for Leko.
He is playing regularly for Charlton, is scoring goals and is bound to return to West Brom a better player than when he left by the time the campaign ends.
Even if Diangana goes in January, Leko should be left to see out his loan at Charlton.
In other West Brom news, fans have had their say on Gareth Barry’s performance in the 2-1 win against Sheffield Wednesday.