Athletic journo: WBA keen to sell 23y/o, player likely to leave for free when contract expires
West Brom are likely to lose Oliver Burke for nothing in a couple of years’ time, according to The Athletic journalist Steve Madeley.
The 23-year-old has endured a torrid spell in the midlands since signing from RB Leipzig for an eyebrow-raising £13.68 million in 2017.
Three years with the Baggies have yielded just 24 appearances, plus two loan spells – first at Celtic and currently with La Liga outfit Deportivo Alaves.
But it is understood that the Scotland international has not done enough to convince Albion chiefs that he deserves another chance at The Hawthorns.
As such, a sale is very much on the cards, although West Brom could struggle to get the kind of deal that they are looking for before his contract expires in 2022.
Writing in a piece for The Athletic, Madeley said: “They hope to sell Burke and recoup some of their massive outlay but are not optimistic.
“The likelihood is that Burke will leave the club in two years’ time for nothing and Albion will be left to reflect on what, in financial terms, has to been deemed one of the worst transfer deals in their history.”
Barring some kind of massive turnaround, it’s hard to see how Burke can make a go of things with West Brom.
The pacy forward has bags of natural ability, but time and time again we hear that he doesn’t possess the tactical awareness to be a top quality player.
Nottingham Forest defender Joe Worrall told The Athletic earlier in the season: “I would be one of the best in the world if I had that ability. It is not that he doesn’t care but it is about doing everything correctly on and off the pitch to give yourself the best chance.
“I have seen loads of players like that, players who make me wish I could get in their heads for half an hour.
“You just want to show them that, if they work just a little bit harder, if they do the extra hours, they could be so much more than they are.”
But Burke has consistently struggled to reach the level that his obvious talents suggest he should be at.
Even this year he has just one goal in 29 appearances over in Spain.
Selling him would be a real shame, but an understandable decision nonetheless.
Now the only question that remains is how much another club would be wiling to pay for him.
In other West Brom news, Albion could be invited to play for silverware at Wembley next month.
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