Exclusive: Phillips claims West Brom ‘might pay big money’ for PL striker
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 tipped West Brom to pursue Bournemouth pair Callum Wilson and Ryan Fraser if they go up and the Cherries suffer relegation.
Wilson, 28, is an England international and has scored nine goals in 32 appearances across all competitions for struggling Bournemouth this season.
He is a proven goalscorer in the top-flight and West Brom may be in need of a new striker if they win promotion from the Championship once football reconvenes.
Hal Robson-Kanu and Charlie Austin are both in their 30s and haven’t been as prolific in front of goal in the Championship this term while Kenneth Zohore has really struggled since swapping Cardiff for the Baggies.
It means that Slaven Bilic could have his eye on players to improve his attack and Phillips believes that Wilson and Fraser could be options for Albion if Bournemouth are relegated.
“Wilson and Fraser have gone off the boil a little bit. That happens but we have seen what they can do,” Phillips told West Brom News.
“Sometimes you can become a little stale at a club, you maybe need that move somewhere to reignite your career so that could be an option.
“I’m sure those boys will be on the radar of a lot of clubs at the top end of the Championship or those going down.
“I would imagine that with them two, someone in the Premier League or like a West Brom or a Leeds might pay big money for one of those to try and get the goals to keep them in the league.
“They’ll be hot prospects when the season comes to an end.”
Wilson would be a very good addition for West Brom if the Baggies can get a deal done for the centre-forward in the next transfer window.
Bournemouth are 18th in the Premier League table at the moment and have not played at all well this season.
It seems that they could be relegated and surely a player like Wilson, who would want a spot in the England squad, would be willing to quit the Cherries to ensure he stays in the top-flight.
In other West Brom news, Albion have been linked with a Croatian centre-back who Bilic handed his international debut.