West Brom agree £18.1m loan-to-buy deal for centre-forward – journalist
West Brom are on the verge of signing a new striker to spearhead their attack in the Premier League, according to reports in France.
French journalist Joris Crolbois, who has worked for RMC Sport, L’est Republicain and Direct FM, wrote on his personal Twitter account on Sunday that the Baggies have agreed a loan-to-buy deal for Metz centre-forward Habib Diallo.
It is understood that Diallo, 25, will head to The Hawthorns on an initial season-long loan but Albion will be obliged to sign him permanently for a fee beginning at £18.1million.
Albion have failed to score in two of their opening four Premier League matches and registered just two shots on target in their 2-0 defeat at Southampton on Sunday.
Callum Robinson has started every league match up front but the former Sheffield United man has ben more naturally a winger in his career, rather than a striker.
Diallo is an out-and-out centre-forward who scored 12 goals in 26 Ligue 1 appearances last season to help Metz avoid relegation.
Although he was key for Metz last season, he has started just one of five Ligue matches so far this term and was completely left out of the squad that beat Lorient 3-1 on Sunday.
West Brom have until 11pm on Monday to sign players from outside of the EFL and the Premier League so they will have to get a hurry on to ensure that they sign Diallo before the deadline passes.
But, based on the fact he didn’t play on Sunday, the Senegal international could already be on his way across the English Channel to join the Baggies.
In other West Brom news, Dharmesh Sheth has shared a major double striker transfer update on the Baggies.
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