Exclusive: Kevin Phillips raves about West Brom transfer deal, says player is ‘Very lucky’

We’re delighted to welcome former West Brom striker Kevin Phillips as our exclusive columnist. Each week he’ll be giving his views on the biggest talking points at The Hawthorns…

Kevin Phillips believes that Oliver Burke is “very lucky” to have been picked up by Sheffield United after such a poor spell at West Brom.

Albion paid £15million to sign Burke, 23, from RB Leipzig three years ago but in that time since he has done very little of note and hardly pulled up any trees in loan spells at Celtic and La Liga club Alaves.

Sheffield United have now taken a chance on the former Nottingham Forest attacker with him arriving at Bramall Lane in exchange for Callum Robinson, who’s returned to The Hawthorns after a successful short-term loan there in the Championship last season.

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Looking through his blue-and-white tinted specs, Phillips is happy with the swap deal and is curious as to how Burke will get on in Yorkshire.

“It’s a sensible deal,” Phillips told West Brom News.

“It hasn’t worked out at West Brom for Burke. It was just one of those and it just hasn’t happened for him so it’s time to move on.

“The lad’s very lucky to have joined another Premier League side that did exceptionally well last season so let’s see how his future unfolds.

“But to have Robinson come the other way after he did very well for West Brom last season, it’s a sensible deal.

“He’s another good attacking option for Slaven Bilic in the Premier League.”

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Robinson helped the Baggies revive their form after he arrived on loan from the Blades in January and without that, Bilic might not be planning for the new Premier League season right now.

It was always likely that Robinson would return to the Black Country and we’re eager to see how he gets on in the Premier League with a squad of players he’s familiar with and a manager who’s putting a lot of faith in him.

In other West Brom news, Darren Moore has won the race to sign this Baggies forward.

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