Report – West Brom plot late swoop for 24 y/o talent, PL rivals circling
West Brom are preparing a late swoop for Celtic midfielder Olivier Ntcham, according to the Daily Mail.
It is understood that the Baggies are still eager to bolster their squad ahead of a tricky Premier League campaign, and believe that the 24-year-old has the necessary quality to improve Slaven Bilic’s options.
But any deal for the former Manchester City player is likely to come with its complications.
The Mail suggested that Ntcham is attracting admiring glances from a host of European sides, with Lyon and Albion’s Premier League rivals Southampton also credited with holding an interest.
Furthermore, it is understood that Celtic would be keen to hang on to the player, although it is acknowledged that they may have a battle do so before next week’s transfer deadline.
This is certainly an interesting one, not least because we have just this morning seen the Baggies announce a deal to bring Filip Krovinovic back to the Hawthorns.
Alongside Connor Gallagher, that means that Albion have now signed to central midfielders this window, and you would imagine that while they still remain a little light up top, a new striker has to be the priority.
Moreover, it was only last week that we saw the Glasgow Evening Times report that any move for Krovinovic could “throw a spanner in the works” in terms of West Brom mounting a concrete raid for Ntcham.
With that in mind, and considering the other, more obvious holes that need plugging in Bilic’s squad, we are extremely sceptical about this one happening.
That’s not to say it’s impossible, but it certainly feels unlikely.
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