Report – West Brom set to launch eight-figure bid for midfielder, player open to move
West Brom will bid to try and sign midfielder Filip Krovinovic on a permanent deal this summer, according to the print edition of Portuguese outlet A Bola.
The 24-year-old enjoyed a successful loan spell with the Baggies this season, helping the club to automatic promotion back to the Premier League.
But with no option-to-buy clause written in to his contract, he is set to return to parent club Benfica.
According to A Bola, however, Albion will look to secure a transfer in the coming weeks, with a fee of around £9 million being touted.
Moreover, the report suggests that the player himself is open to the prospect of re-signing for the Baggies.
Krovinovic spoke recently with Croatian outlet Vecernji about his own uncertainty over whether a deal will happen – an issue he believes is accentuated by Benfica’s recent change in manager.
If money wasn’t an issue, we would be all for signing Krovinovic.
The Croatian impressed during his time at The Hawthorns, and seems to have settled really well in England.
But funds are set to be tight for West Brom this summer, with suggestions that Albion could have just £20 million to spend on new talent in the coming weeks.
Initially, the Telegraph reported that Krovinovic could be available for just £6 million.
That would have been a steal for a player of his obvious qualities, but whether the Baggies will be willing to fork out nearly half of their transfer budget on the midfielder remains to be seen.
Former Albion striker Kevin Phillips has previously told West Brom News that he believes Krovinovic is more than ready to make the step up to the top flight.
We are inclined to agree, but the price has to be right before a deal is struck.
In other West Brom news, in an exclusive story by this site, the Baggies have opened talks over a new contract for this attacker.
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