‘Blimey’ – Exclusive: Kevin Phillips ‘Excited’ by West Brom striker transfer update
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 is “excited” by the possibility of Bournemouth striker Joshua King heading to West Brom before the domestic transfer window closes next week.
Albion failed to sign a new centre-forward before the international window closed on Monday but have until 5pm on October 16 to sign players from the EFL.
King, 28, has made just one Championship appearance for Bournemouth since they suffered relegation from the Premier League last season and with the Norway international in the final year of his contract, it has been reported that he could be up for grabs for just £10million [The Sun].
The Express & Star has since reported that the Baggies have held talks about a potential deal to sign King with Bournemouth open to receiving a transfer fee in instalments.
Ex-West Brom striker Phillips would be happy to see his former club sign King before next Friday’s deadline and claims he would rather have the Cherries man over Slaven Bilic’s reported number one target Karlan Grant.
“I’m reading that Bilic has been pleading with the board to solve his striker crisis,” Phillips told West Brom News.
“I’ve said all along that if you want to stay in the Premier League, as a newly-promoted side, you’ve got to have someone in your team that’s a natural goalscorer to get the goals to keep you in that league.
“If they can get Joshua King in – or push the boat out and get Karlan Grant in as well – then blimey, that could be decent business.
“But if they can bring just one in, if I’m a Baggies supporter, I’d be happy with King.
“We’ve all seen what he can do so I’d be excited about that one.”
While it has been reported that West Brom cannot afford £10million up front for King, Bournemouth’s willingness to accept structured payments for their striker is a major boost for the Black Country club.
Although Albion have scored five goals in their opening four matches – which is more than what fans would’ve expected – there’s still a major need for a new, top-class striker who is proven in the Premier League.
King has 48 goals in 161 Premier League appearances in his career.
He could be the striker that the Baggies need.
In other West Brom news, this is why Conor Gallagher was missing for Albion’s defeat to Southampton.
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