Euro Football Expert: Reported WBA target ‘could well leave’ current club before window closes

French football expert Jeremy Smith has told the Express & Star that reported West Brom target M’Baye Niang “could well leave” Rennes in the coming days. 

The Baggies are in the hunt for a new hitman as they look to bolster their ranks ahead of their Premier League survival bid this season.

The Sun reporter Alan Nixon first reported last month that Niang had been identified by Albion as one potential target in the latter stages of the transfer window.

A more recent report from The Telegraph suggested that talks have stalled between the two clubs, but Smith believes that an exit is still very much on the cards – especially after Rennes signed Serhou Guirassy from recently-relegated Amiens.

Speaking to the Express and Star, he said: “Rennes have brought in Guirassy, which suggests that they are already working on the basis that Niang could well leave.

“I would have thought that they would prefer to sell, as they are still looking to expand their squad with a Champions League campaign as well as Ligue 1 this season.

“But possibly a loan with a compulsory purchase option might be enough for them.”

This is a positive update for West Brom, definitely.

It had looked as if any deal for Niang could be dead in the water following that Telegraph report, but it would appear that there could still be some distance left to run in this one.

We’re all fully aware of how much we’re crying out for a striker, and the 25-year-old looks as if he could be the real deal.

15 goals last season, including one in the Europa League, is really decent return, and Smith himself has suggested that he has more “raw ability” than Arsenal forward Alexandre Lacazette.

Factor in that he hasn’t featured in any of Rennes’ past four Ligue 1 matches, and this deal not only looks exciting, but also fairly plausible.

In other West Brom news, Baggies would like to strengthen further in this area but time is limited in the window

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