Giroud-esque striker is genuine West Brom alternative for Karlan Grant – report
Metz centre-forward Habib Diallo is a “genuine alternative” for West Brom if they fail to sign Huddersfield’s Karlan Grant, according to the Express & Star.
The newspaper reports that Grant, 23, is still the Baggies’ number one target but there are a list of strikers who the club will turn to if they cannot land the Huddersfield forward.
It is understood that Diallo is on Albion’s shortlist with Metz willing to let the Senegal international leave on a loan-to-buy basis that would see them pocket a “substantial loan fee” up front.
Metz are not keen to let Diallo leave simply because they’re not good enough with Sky Sports News reporter Dharmesh Sheth claiming last week that the Ligue 1 club’s financial situation is “dire“.
Sheth added that Diallo would be available on loan for a £6million fee but if Albion were to get relegated, Metz would pay that money back to them.
Diallo scored 12 goals in 26 league appearances last season as Metz avoided relegation from Ligue 1.
He started all but two of the Ligue 1 matches he was available for and wore the captain’s armband in more than half of his league appearances.
West Brom fans are unlikely to know much about Diallo but French football expert Jeremy Smith has told the Express & Star that the Senegalese forward is “a great target for crosses and as a pivot for a second striker to play around”.
Smith added that while he’s not at the level of the Chelsea striker, the Premier League forward who Diallo compares to the most is Olivier Giroud.
Bilic seems to like having strikers who link up well with other attacking players, which is perhaps why Hal Robson-Kanu start more matches up front than any other striker last season in the Championship.
With Diallo dropping deep to play a role in link-up play while also getting into the box to get on the end of crosses, you would imagine he’d be a perfect striker for the likes of set-piece wizard Matheus Pereira and dazzling dribbler Grady Diangana.
In other West Brom news, Paul Merson has slammed the Baggies for signing this player.
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