View: West Brom close in on ace who’ll offer something new for Big Sam, terms reportedly agreed
West Brom have had their final offer accepted for Celta Vigo midfielder Okay Yokuslu as Sam Allardyce looks to bring in reinforcements for the battle to stay in the Premier League.
According to a report by Sky Sports Italy’s Fabrizio Romano, the Baggies have agreed a deal to sign the 26-year-old on a straight loan and have also agreed personal terms with the player.
Yokuslu is a Turkish international who has fallen down the pecking order in Vigo this campaign. He had featured over 50 times in La Liga over the past two seasons.
West Brom are seemingly in the market for defensive-minded players after their 5-0 thrashing at home to Manchester City.
The Baggies have the worst goal difference in the league by a distance, having conceded a total of 48 goals after 20 games played so far.
Big Sam, who has famously never been relegated from England’s top flight, definitely has his work cut out for him this time. He wants new players in and quickly.
Closer inspection
What kind of player should fans expect when Yokuslu shows up at the Hawthorns?
The Turkish ace has made 13 appearances this season in La Liga, starting three times. He’s averaged 88% passing accuracy, with 65% successful dribbles [Wyscout].
Overall, he’s made 32 interceptions and 59 recoveries in 508 minutes of league action this season.
Despite not featuring much this season, Yokuslu has appeared to maintain the high standards he set last year.
During 2019/20, in which he played 2120 La Liga minutes, he averaged 85.1% passing accuracy. Yokuslu completed 65.7% of his dribbles, as well as 121 interceptions and 271 recoveries.
These stats alone indicate he’s very good at winning possession back, keeping it, and can also hold onto the ball and dribble when required. Everything Allardyce needs at the moment.
For argument’s sake, let’s compare that to two midfielders currently in the Baggies squad.
This season, Romaine Sawyers has averaged 88% passing accuracy. He’s seen 34.8% successful dribbles, 61 interceptions and 138 recoveries. He’s played 1501 mins in the Premier League, nearly three times that of Yokuslu.
Jake Livermore has a passing accuracy of 76.9%. The Englishman has 71.4% successful dribbles, 68 interceptions and 85 recoveries in 1080 minutes of top-flight action.
It appears that the Turkish international can indeed offer something different to Allardyce’s current midfield options.
He seems like a player who will battle well for possession and not be wasteful when he has it. A player of this calibre might be just what West Brom need to turn their season around.
In other West Brom news, Sky Sports pundit blasts Baggies duo.