‘All day long’ – Exclusive: Phillips wants WBA to sign £10m-rated striker today, proven in PL
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 urged West Brom to make a deadline day move to sign Bournemouth forward Joshua King as Slaven Bilic hunts down a new striker to add to his squad.
King, 28, has not started a single match for the Cherries since they were relegated from the Premier League last season, playing just once as a substitute in the Championship.
The Norway international proved himself to be a capable top-flight striker during Bournemouth’s spell in the Premier League, scoring 48 goals in 161 first division appearances for the south coast club.
There has been a lot of speculation surrounding his future at the Vitality Stadium since the end of last season but King, for now at least, remains a Bournemouth player.
But Phillips has now called on the Baggies to “seriously consider” move to land the former Blackburn and Manchester United man today (Monday).
“I like King. If you give me him as an option over Islam Slimani and Karlan Grant, I would take Joshua King all day long,” Phillips told West Brom News.
“That’s someone, who if he is on their radar, I would certainly make enquiries for.
“If a Premier League club comes knocking on the door now, I would seriously consider it.
“When you look at all the firepower and the creativity that West Brom have got, if I’m a striker I’d be licking my lips at that.
“If West Brom could spend a little bit more, then he’s a player I’d certainly look at.”
As King is in the final year of his contract at Bournemouth, the south coast club is willing to sell the Norwegian forward for a cut-price fee worth £10million [The Sun].
Of course, King’s wage demands are likely to be higher than the likes of Huddersfield striker Grant, who has been widely linked with a move to The Hawthorns in this transfer window.
But £10million for a player who’s proven himself to score goals in the Premier League is a steal, especially when he’s at the prime of his career at the age of 28.
In other West Brom news, this is why Conor Gallagher was missing for Albion’s defeat to Southampton.
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