Player rejects West Brom transfer offer despite Slaven Bilic knowing him well – report
West Brom did try to sign Croatian goalkeeper Ivo Grbic from NK Lokomitova but their offer was rejected by the player, according to Marca.
The Spanish news outlet claims that Grbic, 24, turned down an approach by the Baggies in order to join Atletico Madrid.
It is understood that Slaven Bilic knows Grbic well from his time in the Croatia youth set-up but that has not helped Albion secure their man on this occasion.
Bilic used his links to Croatia and former club West Ham to sign players last summer and it seems he tried that approach again with Grbic so that he could add a new goalkeeper to his squad.
Unfortunately, the former Hajduk Split shot-stopper has opted for Atletico Madrid on this occasion, where he is reportedly set to sign a four-year contract.
Has Grbic made the right choice for his career?
Jan Oblak is one of the best goalkeepers in the world and we doubt that Grbic will be taking the number one spot at Atletic off him any time soon.
According to the Express & Star, West Brom saw Grbic as someone who could provide solid competition for Sam Johnstone’s number one spot at The Hawthorns, so it is likely that he would have earned more first-team football in the Black Country than he would have in Madrid.
He’s definitely a highly-rated goalkeeper as journalist Joseph Masi reported that the 24-year-old “has been hailed by pundits as the best shot-stopper in the Croatian First League”.
Marca adds that Grbic is “well thought of by the Atletico hierarchy after his displays in the Croatian top flight for Lokomotiva”.
It remains to be seen if West Brom have missed out here but based on what has been said about the shot-stopper, they might have done.
In other West Brom news, Albion are set to announce the permanent signing of this loan star soon.
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