Ross Jones

Tue 1 September 2020 11:00, UK

West Brom will weigh up a number of options before deciding to push ahead with a move for Wigan Athletic defender Cedric Kipre, according to the Express & Star.

The Baggies are understood to be closing in on a deal for the 23-year-old, with a fee of around £900,000 being touted, as per the Daily Mail.

Albion are increasingly confident that a transfer can be wrapped up in the coming days if they choose to push ahead with it.

But the local outlet suggest that Slaven Bilic’s men are holding off on fully committing to a deal until they have considered all of their options.

The report claims that Hawthorns chief Luke Dowling is determined to get the most out of a relatively tight budget this summer, with talks also being held for Brighton defender Shane Duffy.

There are two ways of looking at this.

If we’re being optimistic about it, the fact that the Baggies are nearing a deal for Kipre is a good thing.

Central defence is an area that West Brom News pundit Kevin Phillips has highlighted as one that needs strengthening this summer, and an extra body certainly wouldn’t go amiss.

On the other hand, however, the fact that Albion are biding their time and weighing up other options tells us that Kipre is not their first choice – and that isn’t an overly reassuring realisation.

Moreover, if Duffy is indeed their preferred option, as this report seemingly implies, they look as if they will be disappointed.

The Mail reported on Sunday night that the Republic of Ireland captain is expected to complete a season-long loan move to Celtic in the coming days, with the Baggies and West Ham likely to miss out on him.

Having Kipre in reserve is some source of solace, but it doesn’t appear to be the deal that the club were initially hoping to tie up.

In other West Brom news, Coventry make approach for this Baggies midfielder

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