West Brom in hunt for Championship ace, contract expires in two weeks – report
West Brom are interested in signing Middlesbrough attacker Duncan Watmore, according to a report from Sky Sports reporter Keith Downie.
The Baggies have lacked quality in front of goal this season and new boss Sam Allardyce could look to bolster his frontline in the upcoming January window.
On Twitter, Downie claimed that Albion and Burnley are keeping an eye on Watmore as the 26-year-old’s Riverside deal is set to expire in two weeks.
Downie said, “Understand Premier League clubs West Brom and Burnley are keeping an eye on Duncan Watmore’s situation.
“Watmore, who’s short-term Middlesbrough deal is up in two weeks – would prefer to stay at Boro but other interest makes it less straightforward.”
Watmore only signed for Middlesbrough in November after being released by Sunderland in the summer.
Allardyce knows Watmore from his time at Sunderland as the winger played a role in keeping a seemingly doomed Black Cats side in the Premier League.
This season Watmore has registered four goals and one assist in seven Championship outings for Neil Warnock’s Middlesbrough and these performances have reportedly caught the eye of some Premier League clubs.
Watmore can play on either flank which means he would be contending for a place on the field with Grady Diangana and Matheus Pereira.
Watmore has little top-flight credentials but he could be effective if he is played on the wing instead of Pereira which would allow the Brazilian to play in his preferred number 10 role.
Allardyce doesn’t just make signings for the hell of it and if he is interested in bringing Watmore to The Hawthorns then he will have his reasons.
A big boost for the Baggies is that Watmore should cost nothing if he lets his contract expire as Allardyce will have to use what little money he has in a very creative way.
With Watmore out of contract in two weeks, this transfer story could move very quickly.
In other West Brom news, Sam Allardyce has been hailed by Rio Ferdinand after Albion’s draw against Liverpool.
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