Exclusive: Phillips worried by reported West Brom hunt for 26y/o, suggests Bundesliga pursuit
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 is concerned by a report which claims that West Brom are lining up a bid to sign Fenerbahce centre-forward Vedat Muriqi.
Turkish news outlet Fanatik reported last week that Albion could make a move to sign the 26-year-old Kosovo international if they win promotion to the Premier League.
Muriqi has been in impressive form for Fenerbahce this season, scoring 15 goals in 28 appearances across all competitions.
However if the Baggies are going to pursue a new striker once they win promotion to the Premier League then Phillips would rather see them take their chances on someone with experience in England’s top-flight – something which Muriqi doesn’t have.
“I would prefer to see West Brom go for a proven Premier League striker,” Phillips told West Brom News.
“There are three or four teams in the Premier League this season, like Villa, West Ham and Everton, that went out and splashed good money on strikers that haven’t got Premier League experience. It can bite you on the backside if you’re not careful.
“I’m not saying it’s the same for everyone. There are certainly teams who have gone for a striker that has never played here and it has worked out but there’ll be some very cautious teams, especially with the financial climate we’re in now.
“I would certainly look at someone who’s got that Premier League experience or maybe look at someone in Germany, where it isn’t too dissimilar to our league.”
Muriqi has done well at Fenerbahce this season but Phillips is right to point out that it would be a bit of a gamble to pursue him when he’s not proven in a top European league.
Going after players in the Bundesliga might be a bit of a risk too given how Sebastien Haller and Joelinton have failed to perform at West Ham and Newcastle respectively this season.
West Brom have had mixed fortunes when signing strikers from abroad.
Peter Odemwingie is among the best strikers to have graced The Hawthorns in the 21st century but then you have flops like Brown Ideye and Markus Rosenberg.
In other West Brom news, Jimmy Shan has sent a message to this 21-year-old player after he announced he was leaving the Baggies.