West Brom handed fresh blow in pursuit of 23y/o top midfield target – reports
West Brom have been dealt a fresh blow in their bid to sign Hamza Choudhury with reports that Leicester City midfield target Joao Palhinha could cost £53.4million.
Choudhury, 23, has been linked with Albion for the duration of the January transfer window with the Express & Star detailing that he was a top target for Sam Allardyce before Joseph Masi revealed on Baggies Broadcast [20/01/21] that a deal would be difficult to reach given the finances involved.
However Big Sam would have retained some hope that a deal could be revived as they often are in the closing days of the transfer window, and Leicester’s reported interest in signing a midfielder could have softened their Choudhury stance.
But, while Portuguese outlet A Bola have reported that the Foxes are preparing to table a bid for Sporting Lisbon midfielder Joao Palhinha, the 25-year-old’s importance to the side is such that the Primeira Liga side will drive a hard bargain for him.
According to A Bola Palhinha’s release clause is set at £53.4million and only in meeting this will Leicester be guaranteed to secure his signature.
This is clearly a substantial amount for a player who has only established himself in the Sporting first-team this season after loan spells at Braga and it could see Leicester distance themselves from a deal and keep Choudhury at the club.
Move on, Sam
As the days tick by a move for Choudhury appears increasingly distant with less than two weeks remaining of the transfer window.
Bringing in a midfielder with defensive capabilities is of paramount importance for Big Sam in January as he eyes begins to eye a Premier League survival scrap.
Albion have given themselves a glimmer of hope after picking up a vital 3-2 victory at bitter rivals Wolves on January 16.
They failed to capitalise on this momentum after they lost to West Ham three days later but there are signs that there could be something to build on for the rest of the season.
Robert Snodgrass was West Brom’s first January recruit and he impressed at Molineux showing Allardyce does have an eye for impressive mid-season signings, something he has done to good effect at previous clubs Sunderland and Crystal Palace for example.
Choudhury is clearly someone he has earmarked as an upgrade on the Albion midfield and it is not hard to see why with Romaine Saywers and Jake Livermore struggling there this season.
Perhaps it is time to table a take-it-or-leave it offer for Choudhury and move on to other targets if they are unsuccessful.
Time is ticking and Albion will be left ruing their mistakes if a quality midfielder is not brought in before the deadline.
If it is not Choudhury, it must be someone else.
In other West Brom news, Big Sam eyes move for £120k p/w PL striker.
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