Exclusive: Big Sam tipped to tear up West Brom player deal after loss v B’pool – 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 admits Filip Krovinovic could leave West Brom after the midfielder failed to impress against Blackpool on Saturday.
Krovinovic, 25, was handed his first start of Sam Allardyce’s reign in charge of the Baggies but struggled throughout 120 minutes of game-time as Albion were dumped out of the FA Cup by the League One side.
The Croatian playmaker missed a huge chance to score in normal time to help Albion win the game after reports emerged earlier this month that Allardyce is willing to terminate the midfielder’s loan deal and send him back to Benfica [Record].
Ex-West Brom striker Phillips believes Krovinovic could be someone who is sacrificed to free up space on the wage bill so Allardyce can make other signings.
Speaking to West Brom News, Phillips said: “Maybe that step up to the Premier League has been a little bit too much. You don’t get as much time and space as you do in the Championship as you’re playing against better quality players.”
“I like the player but he might not be Sam’s player. He might be what Sam’s looking at in terms of freeing up a contract to strengthen somewhere else which is more of a priority.
“He could free up a wage to bring someone else in which is unfortunate because he has got something about him.”
Krovinovic did very little of note against Blackpool.
According to stats by WhoScored, the on-loan Benfica midfielder failed to make a single key pass in both normal time and extra time. Out of his three shots, just one was on target.
Krovinovic is a player who Slaven Bilic chased all summer and found himself at odds with the board over because of how long it took to re-sign the midfielder [Telegraph].
However, he’s failed to show that he can perform in the Premier League and a rotten display against Blackpool isn’t going to help his cause one bit.
If Allardyce gets rid of Krovinovic then we can have no complaints. He’s out of his depth and isn’t doing enough to suggest he can play a role in a successful survival bid.
We’d rather see the money spent on his wages spent elsewhere.
In other West Brom news, Paul Robinson is blown away by this latest Albion transfer news.
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