Report – West Brom plot Italian raid for £13.5m-rated int’l talent
West Brom are considering a move for Sampdoria centre-back Omar Colley, according to Italian journalist Gianluigi Longari.
The Baggies are gearing up for their return to the Premier League next month, and have identified the heart of defence as one area in particular which they need to improve over the coming weeks.
The 27-year-old Gambia international is understood to be valued at around £13.5 million by his current employers, but is said to be attracting interest from a number of English clubs.
A recent report from Tutto Mercato Web suggested that Albion had made a bid of around £16 million for the player, while Burnley and Newcastle United have also been touted as potential suitors.
But Longari has now added the Baggies to that list of clubs ahead of a possible summer swoop.
The reporter shared the update via his personal Twitter account.
This seems a little far-fetched, truth be told.
It would be surprising if Slaven Bilic didn’t prioritise a centre-back this summer, given some of the uncertainty that Albion faced in that position last term.
Kevin Phillips has even told West Brom News that he believes it is an issue that needs to be addressed over the coming weeks.
But the chances of the Baggies going out and meeting Sampdoria’s £13.5 million valuation feel pretty slim.
It is understood that West Brom’s transfer budget this summer will be around £25 million.
It’s hard to see them spending over half of that on a single player, especially when you would assume that a new centre-forward will be Bilic’s number one concern ahead of the new top flight season.
In other West Brom news, Bilic has identified his top summer target.
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