Exclusive: Phillips suggests Norwich player as someone West Brom should try to sign
We’re delighted to welcome former West Brom striker Kevin Phillips as our exclusive columnist. Each week he’ll be giving his views on the biggest talking points at The Hawthorns…
Kevin Phillips has claimed that it wouldn’t be bad business for West Brom if they were to sign Norwich striker Teemu Pukki before next season.
Although there is a lot of uncertainty surrounding the football season due to the coronavirus pandemic, second-placed West Brom are still a team that will be pushing for promotion to the Premier League once matches do return.
Albion have been in a strong promotion position all season while in the top-flight, Norwich have been occupying the relegation zone since October and have been bottom since December.
While the Canaries have been struggling at the foot of the Premier League, Finnish striker Pukki, 29, has been one of their beacons of hope in the 2019/20 season.
Across all competitions this term, the ex-Celtic striker has scored 11 goals in 29 appearances.
He’s found the back of the net against Liverpool, Manchester City, Chelsea, Arsenal, Leicester and Tottenham and that proven goalscoring form is why Phillips reckons he’ll be a good addition for West Brom.
“I’m not saying Hal Robson-Kanu and Charlie Austin couldn’t step up but it’s definitely an area Slaven will be looking at,” the ex-Baggies forward told West Brom News.
“If you could nick a top Championship striker or maybe someone coming down who’s done quite well, like Pukki, who has proven he can score goals at that level, that might not be bad business.”
Phillips knows his stuff about playing up front in both the Premier League and the Championship so his opinion on this is one that should be taken into account.
Pukki’s been in great form for Norwich this season and while he started the season on fire, his goalscoring record has been patchy for several months now.
He’s shown he can score in the Premier League and usually a 15-goal striker is able to keep a team afloat in the top-flight.
However it’s a lot more complex than that with Norwich still looking as though they’re doomed to go down despite having the highest-scoring player out of the teams placed 15th or below.
In other West Brom news, Charlie Austin’s situation has been clarified.