Exclusive: Last-minute transfer swoop on the cards for West Brom big-name – pundit
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 claimed that a club could come in with a last-minute swoop for Charlie Austin but he doesn’t expect West Brom to sell the striker.
Austin, 31, has failed to make any of Slaven Bilic’s last three matchday squads in the Premier League and after joining last summer, the ex-Southampton striker only started 18 Championship fixtures.
He scored some big goals for the Baggies last term as they won promotion to the Premier League but it is pretty clear he’s no longer in Bilic’s first-team plans.
According to Sky Sports, Derby County are in talks over a potential deal for Austin, who’s in the final year of his contract at The Hawthorns.
Phillips believes that a move will be made for Austin before the transfer window closes but he believes Bilic will want to keep the experienced centre-forward.
“It wouldn’t surprise me if someone came in for him in the last minute but I wouldn’t have thought Bilic would have any thoughts of getting rid of him because he knows he needs good squad in the Premier League to get through the season,” Phillips told West Brom News.
“I’d be very, very surprised if he was to move on. I’d be disappointed if he was sold.
“I don’t expect him to leave.”
Bilic might want to keep Austin in reserve just in case some of his preferred strikers are hit with injuries or suspensions over the course of the season but the 31-year-old might have different ideas himself.
Austin cannot have played as much as he thought he would have after joining the Baggies from Southampton last summer.
Hal Robson-Kanu started more Championship matches up front than Austin in 2019/20 and this season has seen Callum Robinson also jump ahead of him in the striker pecking order.
Austin’s at a stage in his career where he’s going to want regular game-time and he’s simply not getting that in the Black Country.
In other West Brom news, this Baggies transfer target is set to sign a new contract at his club.
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