Sky Sports details key update on West Brom bid to sign Okay Yokuslu
West Brom are unlikely to agree a loan deal with Celta Vigo for defensive midfielder Okay Yokuslu unless a compromise is reached, according to Sky Sports.
The broadcaster reported in their live transfer blog on Wednesday [03:51pm] that Albion have approached Celta Vigo with an enquiry about the 26-year-old Turkey international.
However, it is understood that the La Liga club are “reluctant” to let Yokuslu leave on loan unless the Baggies agree to sign the ex-Trabzonspor ace on a loan deal which includes an option or obligation to buy him permanently in the summer.
Defensive steel in midfield should be No 1 Big Sam priority
After seeing Jake Livermore and Romaine Sawyers look like a bunch of primary school kids playing against Year 11s in the 5-0 defeat to Manchester City, it is pretty clear that Sam Allardyce is majorly lacking someone who can cover the defence in his midfield.
Livermore was transformed into an athletic box-to-box midfielder while in the Championship when Slaven Bilic was in charge while Sawyers is someone who likes to sit deep with the ball at his feet, rather than do defensive duties.
Sam Field’s injury issues and Conor Gallagher’s importance going forward means there’s a major need for a holding midfielder and it seems Albion have identified Yokuslu as the answer.
Yokusku has started just three La Liga matches for Celta Vigo this season but has still made 14 appearances in all competitions as he’s often brought off the bench to help see matches out.
According to stats by Wyscout, Yokuslu has averaged 5.67 interceptions, 10.45 recoveries and 2.13 clearances per 90 minutes of La Liga football this season and has also won 57.5 per cent of defensive duels and 64.5 per cent of aerial duels.
In comparison, Livermore has averaged 5.67 interceptions, 7.08 recoveries and 1.25 clearances per 90 minutes of Premier League football while winning 52.7 per cent of defensive duels and 28.1 per cent of aerial duels.
While the interception figure is the same, all the other numbers of worse and Celta Vigo are a team who are 10th in La Liga with the eighth-best possession stat [53.1%].
West Brom, on the other hand, are second from bottom in the Premier League and have the worst possession figure [37.5%].
Yokuslu’s defensive work is better and more efficient than Livermore’s despite him playing in a team who sees more of the ball and are doing better than the Baggies.
He’s definitely an improvement on what Allardyce already has at The Hawthorns.
In other West Brom news, there’s been a big update on the ownership mystery at The Hawthorns.
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