Medical underway: Stoke to beat West Brom in race to sign player from PL club – report
Stoke City are set to beat West Brom and Burnley in the race to sign Sheffield United and Wales left-back Ryan Norrington-Davies, according to The Sun.
The newspaper reports on their live transfer blog (Tuesday, 10:51am) that the 21-year-old is having his loan deal at Luton terminated so that he can join the Potters on a temporary basis until the end of the season.
It is understood that Norrington-Davies, who West Brom reportedly looked at, is undergoing a medical with Stoke ahead of a move to the Potteries.
Albion need full-back reinforcement
West Brom were always going to find it hard to agree a deal with Sheffield United for Norrington-Davies due to the two teams being locked in a battle to avoid relegation from the Premier League this season.
However, the former Swansea left-back was always unlikely to be someone who would have helped the Baggies in their bid to stay up.
Kieran Gibbs has had major fitness issues in the last couple of years at The Hawthorns and his form has reached the point where Conor Townsend, when he’s fit, is the starting left-back at Albion.
Before this season, Townsend had never played in the Premier League and Norrington-Davies had never played above League One so to suggest the young Welshman would have improved the Albion defence would be a stretch.
He’s had a good season at Luton so far, earning 22 appearances in all competitions and assisting three goals.
However, we’re not gutted to see him join Stoke instead of us.
If Sam Allardyce needs a new left-back it simply must be someone with Premier League experience.
In other West Brom news, fans want Albion to “get rid” of this player after his shocker against Blackpool.
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