West Brom table new £20m+ bid for player, big sell-on fee included – Times journalist
West Brom have tabled a new bid worth over £20million for QPR attacker Eberechi Eze as they aim to beat Crystal Palace to his signature, according to Duncan Castles.
The Sunday Times journalist first reported on Wednesday that the Baggies had tabled a £17million bid for the talented 22-year-old – an offer which The Athletic’s Steve Madeley said was accepted by QPR but was structured for Albion to pay in installments.
The Express & Star went on to add that while West Brom have made a move for Eze, they are not guaranteed to sign him because he is in favour of a move to Crystal Palace.
However, Castles has since offered an update in the race to sign Eze because Crystal Palace are now said to have tabled a bid worth £16.5million, plus variables and a sell-on fee.
The journalist adds that West Brom have raised their offer for Eze, offering QPR a deal worth £18.2million, plus £3million in variables and a “big” sell-on fee.
Fulham are also said to be interested and Castles reiterates Eze’s preference to join Crystal Palace over West Brom.
West Brom are clearly determined to sign Eze.
While many fans will point to reports that Slaven Bilic’s transfer budget is around £25million, it seems the Baggies are trying to land Eze in a structured deal that will see them pay off just a small chunk of that initial £18.2million fee this summer.
That could leave Bilic with plenty to play around with to bring in other players in the transfer market.
There is one massive hurdle for Albion to pass in the race for the attacking midfielder’s signature though and that is his desire to join Crystal Palace.
Clearly, the Black Country club feels that their best way of landing Eze is to outbid Palace, ensure QPR turn down Roy Hodgson’s bids and hopefully force them to sell the player to them.
It’s a bolshy strategy and we hope it pays off.
Kevin Phillips told West Brom News earlier this month that Eze is a “top player“.
In other West Brom news, Albion are “very close” to signing a player who’s training away from his team-mates.
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