Kealan Hughes

Thu 4 February 2021 21:30, UK

Saido Berahino wants to return to West Brom and revealed he almost came back under Darren Moore.

The striker was sold by Albion in 2016 and now plays for Belgian side Sporting Charleroi, on loan from Zulte Waregem.

Moore instead brought in Dwight Gayle and his 24 goals helped Albion to a play-off spot in 2018/19.

Appearing on the ‘2 Baggies 1 Lightbulb Podcast’, Berainho said, “I was close to going back to West Brom when Darren Moore was there. He actually made an inquiry to Stoke about me going back on loan.

“Darren was absolutely up for it. He called me and it was the last week of the window but Stoke said, ‘We can’t let him go. If he goes to you guys and starts banging in goals how would that look to our fans?’ That got shut down straight away.

“I was up for it – I’m still up for it now.”

Different paths

Berahino’s career trajectory since leaving The Hawthorns is really something to behold.

While it is disappointing to see him struggling in Belgium, with just four goals in 21 games this season, it will not catch many Albion fans by surprise.

The 27-year-old has frequently displayed the wrong attitude during his career and as such he is unlikely to be welcomed back to West Brom.

It is fortunate Stoke blocked his move three years ago as it is quite possible that Moore would have been sacked earlier than he was that year.

Since then Berahino has only shown signs of decline, too, and is nowhere near the level of Mbaye Diagne or even Callum Robinson.

A WhoScored average rating of 6.6 in 2020/21 underlines that fact, so the 27-year-old is unlikely to see his wish of returning come true.

Sam Allardyce tends to prefer strikers with a physical presence, hence the signing of Diagne and the interest in Christian Benteke.

So as long as he remains in charge, and until Berahino displays a remarkable turnaround in form, he is unlikely to don the Albion stripes.

In other West Brom news, the Baggies made a last-ditch bid to sign Barcelona No 9 – report.