‘Panic buy’ – Exclusive: Kevin Phillips worried by latest in West Brom hunt to sign striker
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 has warned West Brom about panic buying after being linked with a move for Leicester City outcast Islam Slimani.
According to The Telegraph, the Baggies have enquired about a potential season-long loan deal for the 32-year-old Algeria international, who spent last season on loan at Monaco.
Slimani hasn’t had the happiest of spells at the King Power.
Since his £28million move to the East Midlands from Sporting CP in 2016, he’s made just 46 appearances in all competitions for the Foxes and only started 15 times for them in the Premier League.
The Algerian has also spent time out on loan at Newcastle, where injuries led to him playing just four times, and Monaco.
Slimani did enjoy some success at Monaco as he scored nine goals and supplied seven assists in 19 total appearances before the French season was called to a halt early due to the coronavirus pandemic.
One of those goals even came against Paris Saint-Germain but Phillips is worried that Slimani’s fitness and injury record could be a risk for the Baggies as they would be relying heavily on him if he was to arrive at The Hawthorns.
“When you get to this stage of the transfer window, you just hope that West Brom don’t go out and panic buy,” Phillips told West Brom News.
“We know that’s an area they need to strengthen – we talk about it every week – and Slimani would be a concern based on his time on loan at Newcastle.
“They’ll want to bring in someone who can hit the ground running and not coming in with an injury record because if you get it wrong, it will really hurt you.
“I worry about them panicking and buying the wrong person but if you can keep Slimani fit he’s a natural striker and he might give them that extra something to keep them in the league.
“But I’d be concerned due to his track record.”
Luckily for Phillips, Slimani isn’t a top striker target for West Brom and he is merely on a list of potential recruits for the club at the moment [Express & Star].
Karlan Grant still seems to be the most likely arrival at centre-forward while Troy Deeney and Andre Gray also appear to be options for Albion before they make a solid move for Slimani.
In other West Brom news, the Baggies have agreed a seven-figure fee for this transfer.
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